COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  FLOWERS 
MEMORIAL  COLLECTION 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
DURHAM,  N.  C. 


PRESENTED  BY 

W.  W.  FLOWERS 


[ 

Digitized  by 

the  Internet  Archive 

in  2015 

https://archive.org/details/accountoflateintOOchar 


OF 

THE  LATE 

AMONG 

m  lUvtimi     tlje  saiaftt^ 

OF  THIS  CITY« 


FHE  CORPORATION  OF  Cx^ARLESTON. 


(THIRD  EDITION.) 


CHARLESTON: 

..yRlNTED  BY  A.  E.  MILLER, 

4  Broad-Street. 

1822. 


August  IStHj  1822. 

Resolved,  that  the  Intendant  he  requested  to  pre- 
pare  for  publication y  an  account  of  the  late  intended 
"  Insurrection  in  this  City^  with  a  Statement  of  the 
*'  Trials  and  such  other  facts  in  connexion  with  the 
"  same  as  may  be  deemed  of  public  interest,^^ 


TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

In  complying  with  the  objects  of  the  above  Resolution,  I  Imve  not 
been  insensible  to  the  difficulties  and  embarrassments  necessarily  in- 
cident to  the  subject,  as  to  what  it  might  be  politic  either  to  pubUsh 
or  suppress.  With  the  advice,  however,  of  the  Corporation,  I  have 
deemed  a  full  publication  of  the  prominent  circumstances  of  the  late 
commotion  the  most  judicious  course,  as  suppression  might  assume 
the  appearance  of  timidity  or  injustice.  Whilst  such  a  Statement  is 
due  to  the  character  of  our  community,  and  justification  of  our  laws, 
there  can  be  no  harm  in  the  salutary  inculcation  of  one  lesson, 
among  a  certain  portion  of  our  population,  that  there  is  nothing 
they  are  bad  enough  to  do,  that  we  are  not  powerful  enough  to 
punish. 

J.  HAMILTON,  jun.  Intendant 
Charleston,  August  l6th,  1822. 


Mn  Account,  $fe. 

ft 


On  Thursday,  the  30th  of  May  last,  about  3  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  the  Int^ndant  of  Charleston  was  in- 
formed by  a  gentleman  of  great  respectability,  (who, 
that  morning,  had  returned  from  the  country)  that  a 
favourite  and  confidential  slave  of  his  had  communi- 
cated to  him,  on  his  arrival  in  town,  a  conversation 
which  had  taken  place  at  the  market  on  the  Saturday 
preceding,  between  himself  and  a  black  man  ;  which 
afforded  strong  reasons  for  believing  that  a  revolt  and 
i^jsurrection  were  in  contemplation  among  a  proportion 
at  least  of  our  black  population.    The  Corporation 
was  forthwith  summoned  to  meet  at  5  o'clock,  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  the  narrative  of  the  slave  who  had 
given  this  information  to  his  master,  to  which  meeting 
the  attendance  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor  was  so- 
licited ;  with  which  invitation  he  promptly  complied. 
Between,  however,  the  hours  of  3  and  5  o'clock,  the 
gentleman  who  had  conveyed  the  information  to  the 
Intendant,  having  again  examined  his  slave,  was  induc- 
ed to  believe,  that  the  negro  fellow  who  had  communi- 
cated the  intelligence  of  the  intended  revolt  to  the 
slave  in  question,  belonged  to  Messrs.  J.  &  D.  Paul, 
Broad  Street,  and  resided  in  their  premises.  Accor- 
dingly, with  a  promptitude  worthy  of  all  praise,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  interposition  of  the  civil  authority 
he  applied  to  the  Messrs.  Paul  and  had  the  whole  of 
their  male  servants  committed  to  the  Guard-House, 
until  the  individual  who  had  accosted  the  slave  of 
this  gentleman,  on  the  occasion  previously  mentionedj 
could  be  identified  from  among  them. 


4 


could  be  identified  from  among  tlieoi. 

On  the  assembling  of  the  Corporation  at  five,  the 
slave  of  this  gentleman  was  brought  before  them, 
having  previously  identified  Mr.  PauPs  William  as  the 
majp  who  had  accosted  him  in  the  market,  he  then 
related  the  following  circumstances : 

'  On  Saturday  afternoon  last  (my  master  being  out 
^  of  town)  I  went  to  market ;  after  finishing  my  business 

*  I  strolled  down  the  wharf  below  the  fish  market, 
^  from  which  I  observed  a  small  vessel  in  the  stream 
^  with  a  singular  flag;  whilst  looking  at  this  object^ 

*  a  black  man,  (Mr.  Paul's  William)  came  up  to  me 

*  and  remarking  the  subject  wdiich  engaged  my  atten- 

*  tion  said,  I  have  often  seen  a  flag  with  the  number  76 
^  on  it,  but  never  with  96,  before.  After  some  trifling 
'  conversation  on  this  point,  he  remarked  with  consi- 
^  derable  earnestness  to  me.  Do  you  know  that  some- 
^  thing  serious  is  about  to  take  place  ?  To  which  \ 
'  replied  no.  Well,  said  he,  there  is,  and  many  of  us 
^  are  determined  to  right  ourselves  !  I  asked  him  to 
'  explain  himself— when  he  remarked,  why,  we  are 

*  determined  to  shake  off  our  bondage,  and  for  this 
'  purpose  we  stand  on  a  good  foundation,  many  have 
'joined,  and  if  you  will  go  with  me,  1  will  show  you 

*  the  man,  who  has  the  list  of  names  who  v^ill  take 

*  yours  down. — was  so  much  astonished  and  horror 
^  struck  at  this  information,  that  it  was  a  moment  or 
'  two  before  I  could  collect  myself  sufficiently  to  tel! 

*  him  I  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  this  business, 

*  that  I  was  satisfied  with  my  condition,  that  I  was 
^  grateful  to  my  master  for  his  kindness  and  wished 
^  no  change.~I  left  him  instantly,  lest,  if  this  fellow 
^  afterwards  got  into  trouble,  and  I  had  been  seen 

*  conversing  with  him,  in  so  public  a  place,  I  might  be 

*  suspected  and  thrown  into  difficulty. — I  did  not  how- 

*  ever  remain  easy  under  the  burden  of  such  a  secret, 

*  and  consequently  determined  to  consult  a  free  man  of 
'  colour  named  and  to  ask  his  advice.   On  con- 

ferring  with  this  friend,  he  urged  me  with  great  ear- 


5 


*  nestness  to  communicate  what  had  passed  between 
'  Mr.  Paul's  man  and  myself  to  my  master,  and  not  to 
'  lose  a  moment  in  so  doing.*    I  took  his  advice,  and 

*  not  waiting,  even  for  the  return  of  my  master  to  town, 
'  I  mentioned  it  to  my  mistress  and  young  master.— 
'  On  the  arrival  of  my  master,  he  examined  me  as  to 
'  what  had  passed,  and  I  stated  to  him  what  I  have 
'  mentioned  to  yourselves." 

On  this  witness  being  dismissed  from  the  presence  of 
Council,  the  prisoner  (William)  was  examined.  The 
mode  resorted  to  in  his  examination  was  to  afford  him 
no  intimation  of  the  subject  of  the  information  which 
had  been  lodged  against  him,  as  it  Was  extremely  de- 
sirable in  the  first  place,  to  have  the  testimony  of  the 
other  witness  corroborated  as  to  time  and  place,  that, 
from  the  confessions  of  the  prisoner  himself,  it  might 
appear  that  he  was  at  the  fish-market  at  the  period 
stated,  and  that  a  singular  flag,  flying  on  board  of  a 
schooner,  had  formed  the  subject  of  his  observation. 
After  a  vast  deal  of  equivocation,  he  admitted  all 
these  facts,  but  when  the  rest  of  his  conversation 
was  put  home  to  him,  he  flatly  denied  it,  but  with 
so  many  obvious  indications  of  guilt,  that  it  was  deem- 
ed unwise  to  discharge  him.    He  was  remanded,  for 
the  night,  to  the  Guard-FIouse,  it  having  been  decided 
to  subject  him  to  solitary  confinement  in  the  black-hole 
of  the  Work-House,  where,  on  the  succeeding  morn- 
ing, he  was  to  be  conveyed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  olst  he  was  again  examined 
by  the  attending  Warden  at  the  Guard-House  (having, 
during  the  night,  made  some  disclosures  to  Capt.  Dove' 
on  which  occasion  he  adnjitted  all  the  conversation 
which  he  had  held  at  the  fish-market,  with  the  wit- 
ness before  mentioned,  and  stated  that  he  had  receiv- 
ed  his  information  from  Mingo  Harth,  who  was  in 
possession  of  the  muster-roll  of  the  insurgents. 

*  It  would  be  a  libel  on  the  liberality  and  gratitude  of  this  commu- 
nity to  suppose  that  this  man  can  be  ovei^looked  among  those  wh» 
are  to  be  rewarded  for  their  fidelity  and  principle. 


6 


With  the  hope  of  still  further  disclosures  William 
was  conveyed  to  the  Work-House  and  placed  in  soli- 
tary confinement.  The  individuals  (Mingo  Harth  and 
Peter  Poyas)  against  whom  he  gave  information,  as 
those  who  had  communicated  to  him  the  intelligence 
of  the  plot  for  raising  an  insurrection,  were  forthwith 
taken  up  by  the  Wardens  and  their  trunks  examined. 
These  fellows  behaved  with  so  much  composure  and 
coolness,  and  treated  the  charge,  alleged  against  them, 
with  so  much  levity — -(no  writings  being  found  in  their 
chests,  containing  the  smallest  suspicion,  excepting  an 
enigmatical  letter,*  which  was  then  too  obscure  for  ex- 
planation, and  to  which  subsequent  events  only  afford- 
ed a  clue)- — that  the  Wardens  (Messrs.  Wesner  &  Condy) 
were  completely  deceived,  and  had  these  men  discharg- 
ed. (3ne  of  these  (Peter  Poyas)  proved  afterwards,  as 
will  appear  in  the  sequel,  to  be  one  of  the  principal 
ringleaders  in  the  conspiracy,  on  whose  courage  and 
sagacity  great  reliance  v\^as  placed. 

Council  being  still  under  the  conviction  that  William 
Paul  was  in  possession  of  more  information  than  he 
had  thought  proper  to  disclose,  a  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  examine  him  from  time  to  time,  with  the 
hope  of  obtaining  further  intelligence.  Although  Peter 
and  Mingo  had  been  discharged,  yet  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  have  them  watched,  and  consequently 
spies  were  employed  of  their  own  colour  for  this  pur- 
pose, in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  advices  of  all  their 
movements. 

Things  remained  in  this  state  for  six  or  seven  da3^s, 
until  about  the  8th  of  June,  when  William,  who  had 
been  a  week  in  solitary  confinement,  beginning  to 
fear  that  he  would  soon  be  led  forth  to  the  scaffold,  for 
summary  execution,  in  an  interview  with  Mr.  Napier, 
(one  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  examine  him)  con- 
fessed, that  he  had  for  some  time  known  of  the  plot, 
that  it  was  very  extensive,  embracing  an  indiscriminate 

*  The  purport  of  this  letter  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  trial  gf 
Abraham  Poyas. 


7 


massacre  of  the  whites,  and  that  the  blacks  were  to  be 
headed  by  an  individual,  who  carried  about  him  a  charm 
which  rendered  him  invulnerable.  He  stated,  that  the 
period  fixed  for  the  rising,  was  on  the  second  Sunday  in 
June.  This  information  was  without  delay  conveyed 
to  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  and  Council  forthwith 
convened.  Whatever  faith  we  might  have  been  dis- 
posed to  place  in  the  unsupported  and  equivocal  testi- 
mony of  William,  it  was  not  conceived  to  be  a  case  in 
which  our  doubts  should  influence  our  efforts  for  pre- 
paration and  defence.  Measures  were  consequently 
promptly  taken,  to  place  the  City  Guard  in  a  state  of 
the  utmost  efficiency.  Sixteen  hundred  rounds  of  ball 
cartridges  were  provided,  and  the  centinels  and  patrols 
ordered  on  duty  with  loaded  arms.  Such  had  been  our 
fancied  security,  that  the  guard  had  previously  gone  on 
duty  without  muskets,  with  sheathed  bayonets  and 
bludgeons. 

Three  or  four  days  now  elapsed,  and  notwithstand- 
ing all  our  efforcs,  we  could  obtain  no  confirmation  of 
the  disclosures  of  William,  on  the  contrary,  they  seem- 
ed to  have  sustained  some  invalidation,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance, of  one  of  the  individuals  (Ned  Bennett) 
whom  he  named  as  a  person  who  had  information  in 
relation  to  the  insurrection,  coming  voluntarily  to  the 
Intendant,  and  soliciting  an  examination,  if  he  was  an 
object  of  suspicion.  In  this  stage  of  the  business,  it 
was  not  deemed  advisable  prematurely  to  press  these 
examinations,  as  it  might  have  a  tendency  to  arrest 
any  further  developments. 

On  the  night,  however,  of  Friday  the  14th,  the  infor- 
mation of  William  w^as  amply  confirmed,  and  details 
infinitely  more  abundant  and  interesting  afforded.  At 
8  o'clock  on  this  evening,  the  Intendant  received  a  visit 
from  a  gentleman,  who  is  advantageously  known  in  this 
community  for  his  worth  and  respectability. 

This  gentleman,  with  an  anxiety,  which  the  oc- 
casion was  well  calculated  to  beget,  stated  to  the  In- 
tendant, that,  having  the  most  unbounded  confidence  in 


8 


ii  faithful  slave  belonging  to  his  family,  who  was  dis- 
tinguished alike  for  his  uncommon  intelligence  and  in- 
tegrity, he  was  induced  to  inform  him,  that  rumors 
were  abroad  of  an  intended  insurrection  of  the  blacks, 
and  that  it  was  said,  that  this  movement  had  been 
traced  to  some  of  the  coloured  members  of  Dr.  Palmer's 
church,  in  which  he  w^as  known  to  be  a  class  leader. — 
On  being  strongly  enjoined  to  conceal  nothing,  he,  the 
next  day,  Friday  the  14th,  came  to  his  master,  and  in- 
formed him,  that  the  fact  was  really  so,  that  a  public 
disturbance  was  contemplated  by  the  blacks,  and  not  a 
moment  should  be  lost  in  informing  the  constituted  au- 
thorities, as  the  succeeding  Sunday,  the  16th,  at  12 
o'clock,  at  night,  was  the  period  fixed  for  the  rising, 
which,  if  not  prevented,  would  inevitably  occur  at  that 
hour.  This  slave,  it  appears,  was  in  no  degree  con- 
nected with  the  plot,  but  he  had  an  intimate  friend,  A — 
(one  of  his  class)  who  had  been  trusted  by  the  conspira- 
tors with  the  secret,  and  had  been  solicited  by  them  to 
join  their  association  ;  to  this  A —  first  appeared  to  con- 
sent, but,  on  no  period  absolutely  sent  in  his  adhesion. 
According  to  the  statement  which  he  afterwards  made 
himself  to  the  Court,  it  would  seem  that  it  was  a  sub- 
ject of  great  regret  and  contrition  with  him,  that  he 
had  ever  appeared  to  lend  his  approbation  to  a  scheme 
so  wicked  and  atrocious,  and  that  he  sought  occasion  to 
make  atonement,  by  divulging  the  plot,  which  on  the 
Y^ih  he  did,  to  the  slave  of  the  gentleman  in  question, 
his  class  leader.^' 

This  gentleman,  therefore,  mentioned,  that  his  ser- 

vant  had  informed  him,  that  A  1  had  stated,  that 

about  three  months  ago,  Rolla,  belonging  to  Governor 
Bennett,  had  communicated  to  him  the  intelligence  of 
the  intended  insurrection,  and  had  asked  him  to  join— 

*  Most  of  the  black  religious  communities  in  this  place,  are  divid- 
ed into  classes,  over  which  a  Leader  is  placed,  having  the  confidence 
of  the  Pastor  of  the  Church. 

tThis  witness  gave  the  information  under  a  pledge,  that  his  name 
should  not  be  divulged^ 


9 


^  That  he  remarked,  in  the  event  of  their  rising,  they 

*  would  not  be  without  help,  as  the  people  from  San 

*  Domingo  and  Africa  would  assist  them  in  obtaining 

*  their  liberty,  if  they  only  made  the  motion  first  them- 

*  selves.    That  if  A  wished  to  know  more,  he  had 

*  better  attend  their  meetings,  where  all  would  be  dis- 

*  closed.'  After  this,  at  another  interview,  Rolla  in- 
formed A  i  that  '  the  plan  was  matured,  and  that 

*  on  Sunday  night,  the  l  ''th  June,  a  force  would  cross 
'  from  James'  Island  and  land  on  South  Bay,  march  up 

*  and  seize  the  Arsenal  and  Guard  House,  that  another 
'  body  at  the  same  time  would  seize  the  Arsenal  on  the 

*  Neck,  and  a  third  vvould  rendezvous  in  the  vicinity  of 

*  his  master's  mills.  They  would  then  sweej)  tiie  town 
'  with  fire  and  sword,  not  permitting  a  single  white  soul 
'  to  escape.' 

As  this  account  was  remarkably  coincident  with  the 
one  given  by  William  (Mr.  Paul's  slave)  as  the  witnesses 
could  have  had  no  possible  communication,  or  the  story 
have  been  the  result  of  preconcert  and  combination, 
the  sum  of  this  intelligence  was  laid  before  the  Gover- 
nor by  9  o'clock,  and  by  10  o'clock  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  regiments  of  the  City  militia,  convened  by 
his  Excellency's  order,  at  the  residence  of  the  Inten- 
dant.  On  this  and  the  succeeding  afternoon,  at  another 
meeting  of  the  same  individuals,  such  measures  were 
determined  on  by  his  Excellency,  as  were  deemed  best 
adapted  to  the  approaching  exigency  of  Sunday  night. 

On  Sunday  the  16th,  at  10  o'clock  at  night,  the  fol- 
lowing corps  were  ordered  to  rendezvous  for  guard— 

Capt.  CatteFs  Corps  of  Hussars,  Capt.  Miller's  Li^ht 
Infantry,  Capt.  Martindale's  Neck  Rangersy  Charleston 
Riflemen,  and  City  Guard.^ 

The  whole  were  organized  as  a  detachment,  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  Col.  R.  Y.  Hayne.  Al- 
though there  was  necessarily  great  excitement,  and 

"Ili*^  Republican  Artillery  under  Capt.  Patterson,  was  on  duty  on  the  iij.f;ht 
of  the  16tb,and  were  armed  witli  muskets,  and  stationed  in  the  Arsenal  Yard. 

2 


amon^  the  female  part  of  our  community  much  alarm, 
ypt,  the  nl^bt  ;;)asset|  off  without  any  thins  Hkf'  commo- 
tion or  disturbance,  and  it  is  peculiarly  honorable  to 
the  corps  on  service,  that  in  a  populous  town,  the  streets 
filled  until  a  late  hour  with  persons,  uncertain  whether 
it  was  SrUV  to  ^o  to  rest  or  7iot,  not  a  single  case  of  false 
alarm  was  excited.  A  steadiness  altog;et!!«  r  praisewor- 
thy, in  troops  unaccustomed  to  guard  duty,  at  least  on 
an  occasion  involving  such  deep  interest  and  distress- 
ing anxiety. 

The  cons[)irators  finding  the  whole  town  encompass- 
ed at  10  o'clock,  by  the  most  vigilant  patrols,  did  not 
dare  to  show  themselves,  whatever  might  have  been 
their  plans.  In  the  progress  of  the  subseqtient  investi- 
gation, it  was  distinctly  in  proof,  that  but  for  these  mi- 
litary demonstrations,  the  effort  would  unquestionably 
have  been  made  ;  that  a  meeting  took  place  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  the  16th,  at  4  o'clock,  of  several  of  the  ring- 
leaders, at  DenmarkVesey's,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
their  preliminary  arrangements,  and  that  early  in  the 
morning  of  Sunday,  Denmark  despatched  a  courier,  to 
order  down  some  country  negroes  from  Goose  Creek, 
which  courier  had  endeavored  in  vain  to  get  out  of 
town. 

No  developement  of  the  plot  having  been  made  on 
Sunday  night,  and  the  period  having  passed,  which 
was  fixed  on  for  its  explosion,  it  now  became  the  duty 
of  the  civil  authority  to  take  immediate  steps  for  the 
apprehension,  commitment,  and  trial  of  those  against 
whom  they  were  in  possession  oi  iniormation.  Coun- 
cil was  accordingly  convened,  and  as  a  preliminary 
measure,  it  was  deemed  expedient,  that  a  Court  of  the 
highest  respectability,  for  the  talents  and  integrity  of 
its  members,  should  be  assembled,  and  that,  whilst  the 
requisitions  of  the  Act  of  Assembly,  of  1740,  should  be 
strictly  complied  with,  in  devolving  the  warrant  of  sum- 
mons on  the  Magistrates ;  the  Corporation  saw  no  im- 
propriety in  affording  these  officers  a  list  of  such  names 
of  Freeholders,  as  they  knew  would  meet  in  a  pre- 


11 


eminent  degree  the  public  approbation  ;  and  to  these 
persons  private  letters  were  written  by  the  authority  of 
Council,  strongly  soliciting  their  acceptance  of  a  trust, 
involving  indeed  the  most  irksome  labour,  as  well  as  the 
deepest  responsibility.  In  conformity  with  these  ar- 
rangements, the  following  Court  was  organized  on  the 
evening  of  the  17th  : — 

Magistrates^  Freeholders, 


Cotemporaneously  with  the  organization  of  this 
Court,  a  Committee  of  Vigilance  and  Safety  was  ap- 
pointed from  among  the  Members  of  Council,  to  aid  the 
Intendant  in  the  execution  of  the  laws ;  to  co-operate 
with  him  during  the  recess  of  Council,  in  all  those 
measures  necessary  for  exploring  the  causes  and  cha- 
racter of  the  existing  disturbance,  and  bringing  to  light 
and  punishment  the  suspected  and  guilty.  How  ably 
these  functions  were  discharged  by  this  Committee,  it 
is  not  befitting  the  occasion  or  the  circumstances  under 
which  this  publication  appears  to  dwell.  Their  gene- 
rous devotion  and  unremitting  assiduity  to  the  public 
interests  and  safety,  are  left  to  the  more  appropriate 
appreciation  of  a  community  that  witnessed  their  la- 
bours. This  Committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  Wesner, 
Napier,  Condy,  Burger,  and  Simons,  and  were  zea- 
lously aided  by  the  rest  of  the  Wardens;  and  for 
its  service,  four  of  the  most  active,  intelligent,  and  con- 
fidential non-commissioned  officers  of  the  City  Guard, 
were  detached  as  Police  Officers,  to  search  suspected 
places,  and  to  apprehend  those  for  whom  warrants 
might  be  issued.  This  Committee  commenced  its  la- 
bours on  the  night  of  the  17th,  and  during  the  ensuing 
twenty-four  hours,  the  following  slaves  were  commit- 
ted : — Rolla,  Batteau,  Matthias  and  A^ed,  the  property 
of  the  Governor  Bennett ;  Mungo  and  Peter^  the  pro- 
perty of  James  Poyas ;  Amliurst^  the  pioperty  of  Mrs. 


12 


Lining  ;  Stephen,  the  property  of  T.  R.  Smith  ;  Rich- 
ard and  John,  the  property  of  Jonathan  Lucas. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  June,  the  Court  of 
Magistrates  and  Freeholders  assembled  at  the  Court- 
House,  were  sworn  in,  and  proceeded  to  the  arraign- 
ment of  the  above  prisoners  for  trial.  Who  were 
<^harged  "  ivith  attempting  to  raise  an  insurrection 
"  among  the  Blacks  against  the  Whites.^^  In  order 
that  the  public  may  understand  the  offence  as  defined 
in  the  Act  of  1740,  the  clause,  at  length,  will  be  found 
in  the  Appendix,  marked  (A.) 

Before  we  proceed  to  a  brief  (and  it  necessarily  must 
be  very  brief)  abstract  of  the  testimony  offered  in  the 
cases  brought  before  the  Court,  it  may  not  be  unimpor- 
tant to  observe,  that,  previous  to  their  proceeding  to 
the  painful  investigation  with  which  they  were  charged, 
they  laid  down  a  variety  of  rules  for  their  government, 
all  of  them  subservient  to  justice  as  well  as  humanity. 
In  the  first  place,  it  was  decided,  that  the  testimony 
should  be  regulated  by  those  established  rules  of  evi- 
dence, which  are  elsewhere  found  so  important  in  the 
exposition  of  truth  ;  that  no  slave  should  be  tried  but  in 
the  presence  of  his  Master  or  his  Attorney  ;  that  the 
ifestimony  of  one  witness,  unsupported  by  circum- 
stances, should  lead  to  no  conviction  involving  capital 
punishment ;  and  that  the  statement  of  the  party  him- 
self, should  be  heard  in  explanation  of  such  particulars, 
as  seemed  most  inculpatory. 

THE  COURT, 
Being  thus  organized,  they  proceeded  to  the  trial  of 
ROLLA,  the  slave  of  Governor  Bennett: — 

Jacob  Axson,  Esq.  attending  as  Attorney  of  his  master. 

It  was  proved,  that  RoUa  had  confessed  to  two  per- 
sons, both  of  whom  were  examined  by  the  Court,  that 
he  belonged  to  the  conspiracy,  and  with  one  of  these 
witnesses  (his  friend)  he  used  every  effort  to  induce 
him  to  joiu  in  the  insurrection,  which  Rolla  stated 


13 


was  to  take  place  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  June.— 
Finding  that  this  friend  (the  witness  in  qupstio-^j  would 
not  join  the  association,  he  urged  him  to  go  out  of 
town  on  Sunday  night,  lest  some  harm  should  come  to 
him.  Rolla  represented  himself  as  the  commander  of 
the  Force  which  was  to  rendezvous  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
master's  mills,  and  explained  to  the  witness  fully  the 
order  of  attack;  the  division  of  the  forces;  and  said, 
"  that  his  troops,  in  their  way  into  town,  would  fix 
his  Old  Buck  (his  master)  and  the  Intendant."  On 
being  asked  whether  it  was  intended  to  kill  the  wo- 
men and  children,  he  remarked  when  we  have  done 
with  the  men  we  know  what  to  do  with  the  women. — 
On  this  testimony  Rolla  was  found  guilty,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed  on  the  2d  of  July.* 

B  ATTEAU  was  next  tried- 
It  was  proved  that  Batteau  confessed  to  two  persons 
(both  of  whom  were  introduced  as  witnesses)  that  he 
belonged  to  the  conspiracy,  and  made  efforts  to  induce 
them  to  join  in  the  rising,  by  representing  the  extent 
of  their  preparations,  and  the  probability  of  their  suc' 
cess.  He  stated  he  was  to  head  a  party  near  Canon's 
bridge,  and  that  he  expected  aid  from  the  country. — 
More  than  one  interview  took  place  between  Batteau 
and  the  witnesses  on  the  subject ;  the  last,  on  the  Sun- 
day fixed  for  the  insurrection,  on  which  he  renewed 
his  solicitations  that  the  witnesses  should  join  him. — • 
Batteau  was  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  execut- 
ed on  the  2d  of  July. 

STEPHEN,  belonging  to  Thos.  R.  Smith,  Esq. 

Was  next  brought  before  the  Court,  but  the  testi- 
mony  being  deemed  insufficient,  and  indeed,  the  Court 
being  satisfied  of  his  innocence,  directed  his  discharge, 

*  The  following  Note  appears  on  the  Journals  of  the  Court,  in  re- 
lation to  the  trial  of  Rolla — "  Five  witnesses  were  introduced  and 
examined  in  behalf  of  Rolla,  but  so  far  from  impeaching  the  credi- 
bility of  the  witnesses  against  him  they  rather  supported  it." 


14 


PETER,  the  slave  of  Mr.  James  Poyas,  was  next  tried. 

It  was  distinctly  in  proof,  against  Peter,  that  he  had 
made  great  efforts  to  induce  others  to  join  in  the  insur- 
rection; and  the  testimony  represented  him  quite  in 
the  character  of  a  chieftain  or  leader,  for  which  his 
boldness  and  sagacity  unquestionably  qualified  him. — 
He  appeared,  from  the  testimony,  to  have  employed 
uncommon  i^ains  to  remove  all  the  objections  arising 
in  the  minds  of  those  whom  he  attempted  to  enlist,  as 
to  the  probability  of  the  success  of  the  effort.  And 
spoke  with  great  confidence  of  the  succors  which  were 
expected  from  San  Domingo.  It  was  strongly  to  be 
infi^rred,  from  all  the  ^vitnesses  stated,  that  the  difficult 
atid  dangerous  sally  of  endeavouring  to  carry  the 
M  in\  Guard  House  was  to  have  been  confided  to  him, 
for  he  particularly  acquainted  one  of  the  witnesses  with 
the  coQibination  of  stratagem  and  force  with  which  he 
projiosed  to  arcoiii|)lish  this  object. 

Peter  was  found  guilty  on  this  testimony,  and  sen* 
tenced  for  execution  on  the  2d  of  July.* 

AMHERST,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Lining,  was  next  ex- 
amined, found  not  guilty,  and  discharged. 

The  Court  then  proceeded  to  the  trial  of  NED,  the 
property  of  Governor  Bennett. 
Ned^s  guilt  was  i)roved  fully  by  the  same  witnesses 
that  appeared  against  Peter  Poyas,  with  whom  it  was 
established  he  was  in  the  habit  of  frequent  consultation 
on  the  efforts  that  were  to  be  made.  Subsequent  dis- 
closures have  justified  very  strongly  the  finding  of  the 

*  After  the  execution  of  Peter,  his  guiit,  in  the  most  flagrant  de- 
gree became  most  abundantly  established  ;  affording,  in  every  parti- 
cular, the  stiongest  corroboration  of  the  testimony  by  which  he  had 
been  convicted.  It  was  apparent  that  he  was  the  most  efficient  of  all 
the  ringleaders,  and  one  who  possessed  the  largest  share  of  the  confi- 
dence of  Denmark  Vesey,  who  was,  in  every  sense  of  the  term,  the 
father  of  the  plot.  Peter  was  a  slave  of  great  value,  and  for  his  colour, 
a  first  rate  ship-carpenter.  He  had  the  confidence  of  his  master  in  a 
remarkable  degree^  and  had  been  treated  with  indulgencCj  liberality 
and  kindness. 


15 


Court  against  him,  and  placed  it  beyond  a  doubt,  that 
he  was  a  ringleader,  and  was  to  have  headed  a  force  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Lines. 

He  was  foiuid  guilty,  and  sentenced  for  execution  on 
the  2d  of  July. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  the  Court  discharged  as  not 
guilty,  Samuel  Guifford  and  Robert  Hadden,  two  free 
persons  of  colour,  as  also  Matthias,  the  slave  of  Gover- 
nor Bennett ;  Mungo,  the  slave  of  Mr.  Poyas  ;  Robert^ 
the  slave  of  Mr.  Harth,  and  Richard  and  John,  the  slaves 
of  Mr.  Lucas. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  the  Court  examined  the  cases 
of  Jim,  belonging  to  Mr.  Ancrum  ;  Sandy,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Holmes,  and  Friday,  the  property  of  Mr.  Rout,  all 
of  whom  were  found  not  guilty,  and  discharged. 

On  Wednesday,  the  26th  of  June,  the  Court  proceeded 
to  the  trial  of  ABRAHAM,  the  slave  of  Dr. 
Poyas. 

The  only  proof  adduced  against  Abraham,  was  the 

following  letter,  found  in  the  trunk  of  Peter  Poyas, 

and  acknowledged  by  Abraham  to  have  been  written 

by  himself, — 

"  Dear  Sir, — With  pleasure  I  give  you  an  answer.    I  will  en- 
deavour  to  do  it.    Hoping  that  God  will  be  in  the  midst  to  help  his 
own.    Be  particular  and  make  a  sure  remark.    Fear  not,  the  Lord 
"  God  that  delivered  Daniel  is  able  to  deliver  us.    All  that  I  inform 
"  agreec?.    I  am  gone  up  to  Beach-Hill." 

(Signed)  Abraham  Poyas." 

Although  this  letter  w^as  extremely  suspicious,  yet, 
there  being  no  other  testimony  against  Abraham,  he 
was  found  not  guilty  of  the  charge  '  of  attempting  to 

*  raise  an  insurrection  among  the  blacks  against  the 

*  whites.' 

On  Thursday  the  27th,  DENMARK  VESEY,  a  free 
black  man,  was  brought  before  the  Court  for  trial, 

Assisted  by  his  Counsel,  G.  W.  Cross,  Esq. 

It  is  perhaps  somewhat  remarkable,  that  at  this  stage 
of  the  investigation,  although  several  witnesses  had 


16 


been  examined,  the  atrocious  of  Denmark  Vesey 
had  not  been  as  yet  fully  unfolded.  From  the  testi- 
mony of  most  of  the  witnesses,  however,  the  Court 
found  enough,  and  amply  enough,  to  warrant  the  sen- 
tence of  death,  which,  on  the  28th,  they  passed  on 
him.  But  every  subsequent  step  in  the  progress  of  the 
trials  of  others,  lent  new  confirmation  to  his  over- 
whelming guilt,  and  placed  him  beyond  a  doubt,  on  the 
criminal  eminence  of  having  been  the  individual,  in 
whose  bosom  the  nefarious  scheme  was  first  engender- 
ed. There  is  ample  reason  for  believing,  that  this  pro- 
ject was  not,  with  him,  of  recent  origin,  for  it  was  said, 
he  had  spoken  of  it  for  upwards  of  four  years. 

These  facts  of  his  guilt  the  journals  of  the  Court 
will  disclose — that  no  man  can  be  proved  to  have  spok- 
en of  or  urged  the  insurrection  prior  to  himself.  All 
the  channels  of  communication  and  intelligence  are 
traced  back  to  him.  His  house  was  the  place  appoint 
ed  for  the  secret  meetings  of  the  conspirators,  at  which 
he  was  invariably  a  leading  and  influential  member  : 
animating  and  encouraging  the  timid,  by  the  hopes  of 
prospects  of  success;  removing  the  scruples  of  the  reli- 
gious, by  the  grossest  prostitution  and  perversion  of  the 
sacred  oracles,  and  inflaming  and  confirming  the  reso- 
lute, by  all  the  savage  fascinations  of  blood  and  booty. 

The  peculiar  circumstances  of  guilt,  which  confer  a 
distinction  on  his  case,  will  be  found  narrated  in  the 
confessions  of  Rolla,  Monday  Gell,  Frank  and 
Jesse,  in  the  Appendix.  He  was  sentenced  for  execu- 
tion on  the  2d  July.* 

*  As  Denmark  Vesey  has  occupied  so  large  a  place  in  the  conspi- 
racy, a  brief  notice  of  him  will,  perhaps,  be  not  devoid  of  interest. 
The  following  anecdote  will  show  how  near  he  was  to  the  chance  of 
being  distinguished  in  the  bloody  events  of  San  Domingo.  During 
the  revolutionary  war,  Captain  Vesey,  now  an  old  resident  of  this 
city,  commanded  a  ship  that  traded  between  St.  Thomas^  and  Cape 
Francais  (San  Domingo.)  He  was  engaged  in  supplying  the  F rench 
of  that  Island  with  Slaves.  In  the  year  1781,  he  took  on  board  at 
St.  Thomas'  390  slaves  and  sailed  for  the  Cape;  on  the  passage,  he 
and  his  officers  were  struck  with  the  beauty,  alertness  and  intelligence 
of  a  boy  about  14  years  of  age,  whom  they  made  a  pet  of,  by  taking 


17 


The  Court  tried  JESSE,  the  slave  of  Mr.  Thorns 
Blackwood. 

The  testimony  against  Jesse  was  very  ample.  His 
activity  and  zeal,  in  promoting  the  views  of  Denmark 
Vesey,  in  relation  to  the  plot,  were  fully  proved.  He 
had  engaged  with  Vesey  to  go  out  of  town  on  Sunday 
the  16th,  to  bring  down  some  negroes  from  the  country, 
to  aid  in  the  rising  on  that  night ;  and  remarked,  to  the 
witnesses,  on  his  way  to  Hibbens'  ferry,  if  my  fa- 
ther does  not  assist  I  will  cut  off  his  head."  All  the 
particulars  in  proof  against  him,  he  confirmed  after  re- 
ceiving his  sentence,  by  his  own  full  and  satisfactory 
Confession,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix, 
marked  (H.) 

him  into  the  cabin,  changing  his  apparel,  and  calling  him  by  way  of 
distinction  Telemaque,  (which  appellation  has  since,  by  gradual  cor- 
ruption, among  the  negroes,  been  changed  to  Denmark,  or  sometimes 
TelmaL)  On  the  arrival,  however,  of  the  ship  at  the  Cape,  Captain 
Yesey,  having  no  use  for  the  boy,  sold  him  among  his  other  slaves, 
and  returned  to  St.  Thomas'.  On  his  next  voyage  to  the  Cape,  he 
was  surprised  to  learn  from  his  consignee  that  Telemaque  would  be 
returned  on  his  hands,  as  the  planter,  who  had  purchased  him,  repre- 
sented him  unsound,  and  subject  to  epileptic  fits.  According  to  the 
custom  of  trade  in  that  place,  the  boy  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
king's  physician,  who  decided  that  he  was  unsound,  and  Captain 
Vesey  was  compelled  to  take  him  back,  of  which  he  had  no  occasion 
to  repent,  as  Denmark  proved,  for  20  years,  a  most  faithful  slave. 
In  1800,  Denmark  drew  a  prize  of  $1500  in  the  East-Bay-Street 
Lottery,  with  which  he  purchased  his  freedom  from  his  master,  at  six 
hundred  dollars,  much  less  than  his  real  value.  From  that  period  to 
the  day  of  his  apprehension  he  has  been  working  as  a  carpenter  in  this 
city,  distinguished  for  great  strength  and  activity.  Among  his  colour 
he  was  cilwa^s  looked  up  to  with  awe  and  respect.  His  temper  was 
impetuous  and  domineering  in  the  extreme,  qualfying  him  for  the 
despotic  rule,  of  which  he  was  ambitious.  All  liis  passions  were 
ungovernable  and  savage;  and,  tohis  numerous  wives  and  children,  he 
displayed  the  haughty  and  capricious  cruelty  of  an  Eastern  Bashaw. 
He  had  nearly  effected  his  escape,  after  information  had  been  lodged 
against  him.  For  three  days  the  town  was  searched  for  him  without 
success.  As  early  as  Monday,  the  I7th,  he  had  concealed  hims'^if.  It 
was  not  until  the  night  of  the  22d  of  June,  during  a  perfect  tempest,  that 
he  was  found  secreted  in  the  house  of  one  of  his  wives.  It  is  to  the 
uncommon  efforts  and  vigilance  of  Mr.  Wesner,  and  Capt.  Dove,  of 
the  City  Guard,  (the  latter  of  whom  seized  him)  that  public  justice 
received  its  necessary  tribute,  in  the  execution  of  this  man.  If  the 
party  had  been  one  moment  later,  he  would,  in  all  probability,  have 
effected  his  escape  the  next  day  in  some  outward  iKJund  vessel. 


IS 


This  man  excited  no  small  sympathy,  not  only  from 
^he  apparent  sincerity  of  his  contrition,  but  from  the 
mild  and  unostentatious  composure  with  which  he 
me^t  his  fate. 

Sentence  of  death  was  passed  on  these  six  men,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  and  they  were  executed  on  the  2d 
of  July.  With  the  exception  of  Jesse  and  Holla,  they 
made  no  disclosures;  all  of  them,  with  those  excep- 
tions, either  explicitly  or  implicitly  affirming  their  in- 
nocence. It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  the  si- 
tuation of  the  Work- House,  at  this  period,  precluded, 
after  their  sentence,  their  being  separately  confined  ; 
at  least,  that  Vesey  could  not  have  been  subjected  to  the 
gloom  and  silence  of  a  solitary  cell.  He  might  have 
been  softened,  and  afforded  the  most  precious  confes- 
sions, as  his  knowledge  and  agency  in  the  nefarious 
scheme  very  far  exceeded  the  information  of  others, 
who,  however  guilty,  seemed  but  the  agents  of  his  will. 
But  these  men  mutually  supported  each  other,  and  died 
obedient  to  the  stern  and  emphatic  injunction  of  their 
Comrade  (Peter  Poyas)  "  Do  not  open  your  lips  !  Die 
silent^  as  you  shall  see  me  do it  was,  perhaps,  alone, 
in  Denmark  Vesey's  power,  to  have  given  us  the  true 
character,  extent  and  importance  of  the  correspondence, 
it  was  afterwards  proved,  was  carried  on  with  certaia 
persons  in  San  DomingOo 

On  the  1st  of  July  the  Court  proceeded  to  the  trial 
ofMOxNDAY  CELL,  who,together  with  CHARLES 
DRAY  TON,  had  been  apprehended ;  the  first,  on  the 
27th  of  June,  and  the  latter,  on  the  2d  of  July. 

By  referring  to  the  Appendix  (D.)  &  (E.)  the  nature 
of  the  testimony  against  these  individuals  will  be  seen. 
In  reference  to  the  case  of  Monday  Gell  it  was  estab- 
lished  that  he  had  been  a  very  important  ringleader, 
and  that  his  shop,  in  Meeting-Street,  was  a  place  at 
which  many  meetings  were  held  ;  at  all  of  which  he 
was  present,  lending  the  most  zealous  aid,  and  afford- 
ing the  strongest  countenance ;  and  if  any  confirmation 
of  his  guilt  should  be  sought  for,  it  may  be  found  in  his 


19 


own  confession  in  the  Appendix  (K.)  After  Monday 
Gell  and  Charles  Drayton  were  convicted  there  ap- 
peared to  be  a  pause  in  our  further  discoveries,  and 
some  prospect  of  the  investigation  closing  with  their 
execution  and  that  of  John  Horry,  Harry  Haig  and 
Guliah  Jack,  (for  the  guilt  of  the  latter,  see  Appendix 
(D.)(E.)&(F.) 

On  the  9th  of  July,  however,  these  five  men,  where 
called  before  the  Court  to  receive  sentence,  and  after 
it  had  been  pronounced,  with  the  most  impressive  so- 
lemnity, they  were  withdrawn  to  a  common  ward  in 
the  Work-House,  for  half  an  hour,  until  separate  cells 
could  be  provided  for  them.  It  was  at  this  moment 
that  Charles  Drayton,  overwhelmed  with  terror  and 
guilt,  went  up  to  Monday  and  reproached  him  with 
having  induced  him  to  join  in  a  scheme  which  had 
placed  him  in  such  a  miserable  and  perilous  situation. 
To  this  appeal  Monday,  not  only  confessed  his  guilt, 
but  observed  to  Charles — that  their  present  fate  was 
justly  and  precisely  what  they  had  a  right  to  ex  pect, 
after  their  detected  and  defeated  project.  On  which 
there  immediately  ensued  between  them  a  conversa- 
tion on  the  extent  of  the  guilt  of  others,  in  which  Mon- 
day gave  Charles  the  names  of  many  accomplices 
whom  he  had  not  previously  known  in  the  plot ; — the 
arrival  of  the  blacksmith  to  iron  the  convicts,  and  the 
turnkey  to  convey  them  to  separate  cells,  interrupted 
the  conversation. 

Charles,  during  the  night  of  the  9th,  sent  for  Mr. 
Gordon,  who  has  charge  of  the  Work-House,  and  in- 
formed him  that  he  was  extremely  anxious  to  see  theln- 
tendant,  as  he  had  some  important  disclosures  to  make. 
By  day-light,  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  this  message 
was  conveyed  to  the  person  for  whom  it  was  intended, 
and  Charles  was  visited  at  sun-rise.  He  was  found, 
in  a  state  of  the  most  lamentable  depression  and  panic, 
and  he  seemed  prepared  to  make  tne  most  ample  de- 
clarations from  the  fear  of  death,  and  the  consequences 
of  an  hereafter^  if  he  went  out  of  the  world  without 
revealing  all  that  he  knew,  in  relation  to  the  Conspira-  ^ 


20 


cy,  in  which  he  had  been  so  active  an  a^ent.  Before 
his  narrative  was  received,  he  was  most  specially  put  on 
his  guard,  that  no  promis(,*^  could  be  made  to  him  of  a 
reversal  of  his  fate,  but  that  he  might  rest  satisiiedj 
his  condition  could  not  be  worse  by  his  coming  out 
with  a  full  disclosure  of  all  that  he  knew.  He  then 
stated  many  particulars,  that  had  come  to  his  own 
knowledge,  proving  a  much  wider  diffusion  of  the 
plot  than,  at  that  period,  was  imagined;  and,  after 
giving  up  the  names  of  several  of  his  comrades,  he 
mentioned  the  conversation  which  had  been  commenc- 
ed and  broken  off,  in  the  common  ward  of  the  Work- 
House,  between  Monday  Gell  and  himself.  As  Mon- 
day, at  this  period,  did  not  seem  disposed  to  make  any 
confessions  to  others,  whatever  he  might  be  inclined 
to  do  to  his  friend  Charles,  it  was  considered  impor- 
tant, that  the  conversation  between  them,  should 
be  renewed,  and  they  were  brought  together  in 
the  same  cell,  and  left  for  twenty-four  hours 
alone;  but  some  little  stratagem  was  employed,  to  divert 
the  suspicions  of  Monday,  that  Charles  was  confined 
with  him,  merely  for  the  purpose  of  getting  informa- 
tion out  of  him. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  Court  were  conven- 
ed, and  apprized,  generally,  of  these  new  disclosures, 
which  Charles  had  made,  but  as  he  was  still  closeted 
with  Monday,  he  could  not  be  examined  on  that  day^ 
the  Court  adjourned  to  meet  on  the  13th  ;  on  which 
day  Monday  GelFs  own  confession  w^as  heard  by  them. 
Between  the  10th  and  13ih,  Charles  mid  Monday  were 
separated  (having  been  respited  by  His  Excellency,  the 
Governor,  at  the  request  of  the  Court)  and  Charles,  on 
his  re-examination  afforded  much  important  informa- 
tion, which  he  had  derived  from  Monday.  On  Mon- 
day's having  all  this  brought  to  his  view,  he  confessed 
his  own  guilt,  as  well  as  the  truth  of  the  statements 
which  he  had  made  to  Charles.* 

*  Monday  Gell  is  very  well  known  in  this  city.  He  is  a  most  ex- 
cellent harness-maker,  and  kept  his  shop  in  Meeting-street.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  name  any  individual  more  actively  engaged  irx 


21 


Cotemporaneously  with  these  commumcations,  PE» 
RAULT,  belonging  to  Mr.  Strohecker,  was  taken  up^ 
on  the  10th,  and  on  his  being  closely  and  judiciously 
examined  by  his  master,  he  gave  a  large  mass  of  intel- 
ligence confirming  what  had  been  related  by  Monday 
and  Charles,  and  supplying  several  deficiencies  in  their 
testimony,  more  especially  that  part  of  it  which  relat- 
ed to  the  transmission  of  certain  letters  to  San  Domingo, 
These  disclosures,  with  some  further  details  w  hich  were 
obtained  from  Harry  Haig,  (whose  confession  and  sub- 
sequent testimony  went  to  implicate  a  corps  of  Gullah 
or  Angola  negroes,  that  had  been  organized  under  the 
command  of  their  Chief,  Gullah  Jack,)  gave  ample 
employment  for  three  or  four  days  to  the  Cornmittee  of 
Vigilance,  during  which  upwards  of  sixty  slaves  were 
apprehended. 

It  would  very  much  transcend  the  limits  necessarily 
prescribed  to  this  brief  memoir,  to  go  over  all  the 
trials  that  subsquently  ensued,  on  these  fresh  discove- 
ries. As  the  most  important  part  of  the  testimony, 
adduced  on  these  trials,  is  to  be  found  in  the  Appendix^ 
it  is  deemed  altogether,  superfluous,  to  make  a  special 
application  of  it  to  each  of  the  cases,  as  this  would 
result  in  a  repetition  fatiguing  and  uninteresting  to  the 
reader.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  single  out  a  few  of  the 
cases  most  pregnant  in  interest,  and  to  remark,  that  the 
Court  on  its  reorganization  on  the  13th,  justly  estimat- 
ing  the  extent  of  the  labour  before  them,  laid  down 
certain  rules  of  discrimination  in  the  guilt  of  the  par- 
ties to  which  they  give  the  most  definite  precision  and 
perspecuity,  by  adopting  two  classes  of  offence  ;  tho 

the  plot  than  himself,  or  more  able  to  aid  Denmark  Vesey,  from  his 
uncommon  sagacity  and  knowledge.  He  resds  and  writes  with  great 
and  equal  facility,  and  obviously  seems  to  have  been  the  individual 
who  held  the  pen,  at  all  the  meetings.  At  which  he  wrote  more  than 
one  letter  to  San  Domingo,  for  succors.  His  own  situation  afforded 
no  excuse  for  the  effort  in  which  he  was  engaged,  as  he  enjoyed  all 
the  substantial  comforts  of  a  free-man ;  much  indulged  and  trusted  by 
his  master,  his  time  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  profits  of  his  labour 
were  at  his  own  disposal.  He  even  kept  his  master's  arms  and  some- 
times his  money.  Monday  is  an  E6o,  and  is  now  in  the  prime  of 
life,  having  been  in  the  country  15  or  20  years. 


first  involving  a  primary  and  the  second  a  minor  degree 
of  guilt.  Under  the  first  class,  they  broui2;ht  all  those 
who  were  ringleaders,  who  had  made  a  declaration  of 
their  belonging  to  the  association,  and  who  had  been 
present,  aiding  and  abetting  in  the  contribution  of 
money,  arms  or  ammunition,  at  Denmark  Vesey's,  of 
who  were  in  the  constant  habit  of  visiting  Monday 
Cell's  shop  and  Bulkley's  farm,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  and  communicating  intelligence  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  conspiracy.  Those  found  guilty  in  this  class, 
were  to  be  punished  with  death.  Under  the  second 
class  were  arranged  those  who  had  merely  sent  in  their 
adhesion  to  the  ringleaders  without  ever  having  attend- 
ed a  meeting  at  Vesv^y's,  or  having  been  recognized  by 
him  as  confidential  men,  or  contributed  to  the 
purchase  of  arms  or  ammunition,  or  endeavoured  to 
enlist  others.  The  punishment  which  awaited  those 
found  guilty  in  this  class,  was  transportation  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  United  States.* 

By  reference  to  the  Calendar  marked  (S)  in  the 
Appendix,  the  names  of  the  prisoners  committed  will 
be  found,  and  under  a  proper  column,  the  mode  in 
which  they  were  disposed  of,  whether  by  death,  trans- 
portation, or  discharge,  from  the  insufficiency  of  testi- 
mony. The  extent  of  the  evidence  adduced,  therefore, 
against  each  individual,  may  be  inferred  with  accuracy, 
by  observing  the  punishment  awarded  him  ;  as  the 
Court  adhered  with  great  and  rigid  fidelity  to  these 
rules,  which  were  in  unison  both  with  justice  and 
humanity. 

Among  the  vast  number  of  cases  disposed  of  by  the 
first  Court ;  in  a  session  of  nearly  six  weeks,  involving 
the  most  intense  and  unremitting  labour,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  overlook  the  case  of  Jack  Pritchard, 
otherwise  called  GULLAH  JACK,  The  testimony 
in  the  Appendix,  of  more  than  one  of  the  witnesses,  will 

*  At  the  meeting  of  the  Court  on  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  Mr. 
James  Legare,  from  feeble  heahh  and  great  exhaustion  during  its 
previous  sittings,  asked,  and  obtained  leave,  to  withdraw,  whereupon 
Mr.  Henry  Deas,  was  summoned  by  the  Magistrates,  who  took  his 
seat  and  served  until  the  adjournment  of  the  Court. 


23 


establish  fully  his  guilt,  and  prove  the  justice  of  the 
sentence,  by  which  he  was  ushered  into  another  world  ; 
but  no  description  can  accurately  convey  to  others  the 
im{)ression  which  his  trial,  defence  and  appearance 
made  on  those  who  witnessed  the  workings  of  his 
cunning  and  rude  address.  Born  a  conjurer  and  a  phy- 
sician, in  his  own  country(for  in  Angola  they  are  matters 
of  inheritance)  he  practised  these  arts  in  this  country 
for  fifteen  years,  without  its  being  generally  known 
among  the  whites.  Vesey,  who  left  no  engines  of 
power  unessayed,  seems,  in  an  early  stage  of  his  design, 
to  have  turned  his  eye  on  this  Necromancer,  aware  of 
his  influence  with  his  own  countrymen,  who  are  dis- 
tinguished both  for  their  credulous  superstition  and 
clannish  sympathies.  It  does  not  appear  that  Jack 
required  much  persuasion  to  induce  him  to  join  in  a 
project,  which  afforded  him  the  most  ample  opportuni- 
ties of  displaying  his  peculiar  art,  whilst  it  is  very  ob- 
vious that  his  willingness,  to  do  all  that  Vesey  might 
require,  was  in  no  little  degree  stimulated,  by  his  bitter- 
ness and  his  gall  against  the  whites.  Altho'  he  had  been 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  in  this  country,  yet  he  appear- 
ed to  be  untouched  by  the  influences  of  civilized  life. — 
If  the  part  which  he  was  to  play  in  this  drama,  be- 
spoke that  the  treacherous  and  vindictive  artifices  of 
war  in  his  own  country,  existed  in  unimpaired  vigour  in 
his  memory,  his  wildness  and  vehemence  of  gesture  and 
the  malignant  glance  with  which  he  eyed  the  witnesses 
who  appeared  against  him,  all  indicated  the  savage, 
who  indeed  had  been  caught,  but  not  tamed.  It  would 
be  both  tedious  and  disgusting  to  relate  the  many  arti- 
fices employed  by  this  miscreant  to  deceive  and  cajole 
his  deluded  countrymen.  Such  was  their  belief  in  his 
invulnerability,  that  his  charms  and  amulets  were  in 
request,  and  he  was  regarded  as  a  man,  who  could  only 
be  harmed  but  by  the  treachery  of  his  fellows.  Even 
those  negroes  who  were  born  in  this  country  seem  to 
have  spoken  of  his  charmed  invincibility  with  a  confi- 
dence which  loooked  much  like  belief.  When  Jack 
was  dragged  forth  to  the  s(;affoldhe  seemed  conscious: 


24 


that  his  arts  would  stand  him  in  little  stead,  and  gave 
ap  his  spirit  without  firmness  or  composure. 

The  case  of  TOM  RUSSEL,  another  of  the  Gul- 
lah  Band,  deserves  a  brief  notice.  He  was  tried  some 
days  after  Jack,  and  was  executed  among  the  twenty- 
two  Criminals  hung  on  the  Lines,  on  the  26th  July. 
Tom  was  Jack's  armourer^  and  kept  his  blacksmith's 
shop  on  East-Bay.  His  part  in  the  conspiracy  was 
confined  to  the  making  of  pikes  and  spears,  which  it 
appears  he  did  on  a  very  approved  model.  After  these 
weapons  were  finished,  they  were  held  subject  to  the  or 
der  of  Jack,  and  by  him  sent  up  to  Mr.  Bulkley's  farm,* 
near  the  Cross  Roads,  where  handles  were  provided  for 
them  by  Polydore  Faber,  a  Gullah,  who  met  his  fate 
on  the  same  scaffold  with  Tom  Russel.  This  farm 
was  one  of  the  principal  rendezvous  of  the  Gullah 
Band,  of  which  Jack  was  the  Captain. 

The  trial  of  LOT  FORRESTER,  was  not  without 
interest,  as  he  was  the  courier  of  the  conspiracy,  and 
was  proved  to  have  gone  out  of  town,  for  the  purpose 
of  inducing  the  country  negroes  to  join  in  the  insur- 
rection ;  his  journeys  were  both  south  and  north  of 
Charleston.  His  zeal  and  persevereance  in  the  cause 
were  strongly  proved,  and  there  is  every  reason  for 
believing  that  the  conflagration  of  the  city  was  confid- 
ed, by  Vesey,  to  him.  Match-rope  was  found  in  a  si- 
tuation where  he  had  probably  secreted  it. — He  was 
hung  on  the  Lines  on  the  26th  of  July. 

BACCHUS  HAMMETT,  who  was  hung,  also,  on 
the  26th,  did  render,  and  was  to  have  rendered,  on 
the  night  of  the  16th,  the  most  essential  aid.  Before 
the  latter  period  he  had  stolen  from  his  master's  store 
a  keg  of  powder,  which  w  as  conveyed,  first  to  Vesey's 
afterwards  to  Monday  Cell's,  and  lastly  to  Gullah 
Jack,  to  be  prepared  into  cartridges.  On  the  night 
of  the  16th  he  was  to  have  slept  where  the  arms  of  the 
"Neck-Rangers  were  deposited,  and  facilitated  their 
seizure  and  distribution  among  Gullah  Jack's  corps, 

*  This  farm  was  under  the  charge  of  a  slave  named  Billy,  who 
became  a  witness  for  the  state  and  gave  some  important  details  of  the 
meetings  of  the  Gullnhs.  Several  of  whom  were  executed  on  the  26ih. 


25 

who  were  to  have  carried  this  post,  as  well  as  Mr. 
Duquercron's  store,  in  which  there  were  500  stands  of 
arms,  deposited  for  sale. 

The  cases  of  JACK  GLEN,  BILLY  PALMER, 
and  JACK  PUKCELL,  are  distinguished,  not  by 
any  peculiar  atrocity,  but  for  the  hypocricy  they  blend- 
ed with  their  crime.  Their  assent  to  the  plot  was 
distinctly  shown,  and  it  was  in  proof,  that  Vesey  had 
recognized  them  all  as  his  men.  Jack  Glen  was 
a  Preacher.  Billy  Palmer,  exceedingly  pious,  and  a 
communicant  at  the  church  of  his  master ;  and  Jack 
Purcell  no  less  devout.  The  case  of  the  latter  was  not 
without  its  pathos,  from  the  deep  contrition  he  ex- 
pressed before  his  execution ;  the  distressing  interest 
which  his  mistress  is  said  to  have  taken  in  his  fate,  and 
the  lamentable  delusion  under  which  he  laboured, 
which  is  more  particularly  unfolded  in  his  confession, 
in  the  Appendix  marked  (L.)*  Jack  Glen  and  Pur- 
cell were  hung  on  the  Lines.  Billy  Palmer  has  been 
respited  by  His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  until  Octo- 
ber next,  for  a  commutation  of  his  punishment  to 
banishment  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 

The  Court  having  used  the  testimony  of  Monday 
Gell,  Charles  Drayton  and  Harry  Haig,  very  effica- 
ciously, to  the  ends  of  public  justice,  reconsidered 
the  sentences,  which  had  been  passed  on  them,  and 
instead  of  death,  sentenced  them  to  transportation 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 

As  a  matter  of  form,  PerauU,  John  Enslow  and 
Billy  Bulkley,  (who  had  become  witnesses  for  the 
state,)  were  then  tried  on  their  own  confessions,  and 
sentenced  to  be  transported  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
United  States.  These  individuals  were  important 
witnesses  in  all  the  apprehensions  and  trials  subse- 
quent to  the  13th  of  July. 

Perault  gave  his  testimony  with  great  fearlessness 
and  candour,  and  Enslow  with  much  composure  and 
connexion ;  the  evidence  of  both,  as  well  indeed  as 


*  This  Confession  of  PurcelFs  will  show,  that  the  evil  foretold, 
irom  the  discussion  of  the  Missonri  Question,  has  been,  in  so^^ 
degree,  realized, 

4 


26 


that  of  most  of  the  witnessess,  was  much  appreciated 
by  the  Court,  after  a  severe  scrutiny.* 

This  Court,  having  disposed  of  all  the  cases  before 
them,  adjourned  on  the  26th  of  July. 

At  this  stage  of  our  investigation  w^e  were  satisfied 
that  of  all  the  ringleaders  in  the  conspiracy, 
William  Garner,  (who  had  effected  his  escape  from 
the  city  about  the  1  st  of  July)  only,  remained  to  be 
punished.  As  information  had  been  received  of  his 
having  travelled  towards  Columbia,  a  proclamation 
was  issued  by  His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  for  his 
apprehension,in  promotion  of  the  success  of  which  some 
subsidary  steps  were  taken  by  private  means.  On  the 
2d  of  August  our  wishes,  relating  to  Garner,  were  grati- 
fied, by  his  arrival  in  town.  He  had  previously  been 
arrested  at  Columbia,  thro'  the  public  spirited  efforts 
of  the  Indendant  of  that  place  and  Lieut.  Maxcy, 
who  overtook  and  apprended  him  at  Granby. 

On  Garner's  arrival,  a  new  Court  was  organized 
for  his  trial,  and  such  other  cases  as  might  be  brought 
before  them,  by  precisely  the  same  means  as  those 
which  had  been  employed  on  the  appointment  of  the 
first ;  and  the  services  of  the  following  [gentlemen  se- 
cured, who  were  known  to  possess,  deservedly,  a  large 
share  of  the  public  confidence. 

Magistrates, 
Jacob  Axon,  ^ 

and  >  Esqrs. 

e,  M.  FURMAN;  } 


This  Court  adopted  the  same  rules  for  their  gover»- 
ment  whiclj  had  been  so  humanely  and  dispassionate- 
ly adopted  by  the  preceding  Court,  but,  as  enough 
had  been  done  for  public  example,  they  determined 
to  visit  capital  punishment  on  none  but  ringleaders. 
The  first  case  they  tried  was  that  of  WILLIAM 
GARNER. 

Garner's  guilt  had  all  the  characteristics,  which  the 
Court  had  assigned  to  the  first  class  of  turpitude ;  it 
was  not  only  proved  that  he  was  actively  engaged  10 

*  See  Enskw's  Confession.  Appendix  (M.) 


Freeholders. 
Hon.  Joel  R.  PoinsetTj 
Thos.  R.  Smith,  >  ^ 
R.  Y.  Hayne,     \  ^'^l^^' 
Col.  Thomas  Roper, 
Col.  John  Gordon* 


27' 


recruiting  others,  but  that  he  was  to  have  led  a 
troop  of  horse,  at  the  rising,  composed  of  all  such  of 
the  conspirators  as  might  have  appeared  in  the  streets 
on  horseback.  And  further,  that  he  had  made  an 
offer  of  a  command  to  others  in  his  corps.  Four 
witnesses  having  sworn  positively  to  his  guilt,  detail- 
ing a  variety  of  particulars,  mutually  corroborating 
and  supporting  each  other,  he  was  found  guilty  and 
sentenced  for  execution  on  the  9th  of  August,  at  which 
period  the  sentence  was  carried  into  effect.  This  Court 
having,  after  a  short  adjournment,  of  three  or  four, 
days  recommenced  their  session,  disposed  of  twelve 
cases  more,  involving  a  minor  degree  of  guilt,  and 
adjourned  finaJly  on  the  8th  of  August. 

These  trials,  together  with  some  private  arrange- 
ments, fiiiade  with  their  owners,  in  reference  to  the 
banishment  of  several  slaves,  in  cases  where  their 
guilt  was  clear,  but  not  of  the  first  degree,  have  at 
length  closed  the  anxious  and  irksome  labours  of  the 
corporation,  after  an  examination  of  little  less  than 
two  months. 

It  will  be  seen,  by  referring  to  the  Calendar  marked 
(S)  that  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  were  committed  ; 
thirty-five  have  suffered  death,  and  thirty-seven  have 
been  sentenced  to  banishment.  The  most  important 
object  to  be  obtained  in  uprooting  a  conspiracy,  we 
have  fully  accomplished,  by  bringing  to  punishment 
the  whole  of  the  ringleaders.  Monday  Gell,  whose 
knowledge  of  the  plot  was,  probably,  exceeded  only 
byVesey's,has  emphatically  stated,  that  the  ringleaders 
were  the  first  six,  who  were  executed  on  the  2d  of 
July,  to  wit :  Denmark  Vesey,  Peter  Poyas,  Ned  Ben- 
nett, Rolla,  Batteau  and  Jesse  ;  to  which  he  has  since 
added  himself  and  William  Garner,  who  was  executed 
on  the  9th  of  August. 

We,  moreover,  believe,  that  all  who  were  active 
agents  (though  not  ringleaders)  in  the  conspiracy, 
have  expiated  their  crimes,  or  are  about  to  do  so,  by 
an  eternal  exile  from  our  shores.  It  may  be  mentioned, 
in  confirmation  of  this  belief,  that  Monday  Gell,  from 
memory,  made  out  a  list  of  forty-two  names,  of  those 
who  were  in  the  habit  of  visiting  his  shop,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  combining  and  confederating  in  the  intended 
insurrection,  whom  he  called  his  company ;  every  one  of 


28 


whom  have  been  apprehended,  and  disposed  of.  We 
cannot  venture  to  say,  to  how  many  the  knowledge  of 
the  intended  effort,  was  communicated,  who,  without 
signifying  their  assent,  or  attending  any  of  the  meet- 
ings, were  yet  prepared  to  profit  by  events.  That 
there  are  many  who  would  not  have  permitted  the 
cnterprize  to  have  failed  at  a  critical  moment^  for  the 
want  of  their  co-operation,  we  have  the  best  reasons 
for  believing. 

Before  we  conclude,  some  notice  of  the  probable 
oauses  of  this  conspiracy  may  be  expected.  As  this  is 
a  matter  of  speculation,  we  shall  not  speak  without 
reserve.  Of  the  motives  of  Vesey,  we  cannot  sit  in 
judgment ;  they  have  been  scanned  by  a  power  who 
can  do  higher  justice  than  ourselves.  But  as  they  are 
explained  by  his  character  and  conduct,  during  the 
combinations  of  the  plot,  they  are  only  to  be  referred 
to  a  malignant  hatred  of  the  whites,  and  inordinate  lust 
of  power  and  booty.  Indeed,  the  belief  is  altogether 
justifiable,  that  his  end  would  have  been  answered,  if, 
after  laying  our  city  in  ashes,  and  moistening  its  cin- 
ders with  blood,  he  could  have  embarked  with  a  part 
of  the  pillage  of  our  banks  for  San  Domingo  ;  leaving 
a  large  proportion  of  his  deluded  followers  to  the  exter- 
minating desolation  of  that  justice,  w^hieh  would  have 
awaited,  in  the  end,  a  transient  success.  His  follow- 
ers were  slaves,  and  for  them  it  would  not  be  so  dif- 
ficult to  assign  a  motive,  if  it  had  not  been  distinctly- 
proved,  that  without,  scarcely  an  exception,  they  had 
no  individual  hardship  to  complain  of,  and  were 
among  the  most  humanely  treated  negroes  in  our  city. 
The  facilities  for  combining  and  confederating  in  such 
a  scheme,  were  amply  afforded,  by  the  extreme  indul- 
gence and  kindness,  which  characterises  the  domes- 
tic treatment  of  our  slaves.  Many  slave  owners  among 
us,  not  satisfied  with  ministering  to  the  wants  of 
their  domestics,  by  all  the  comforts  of  abundant  food, 
and  excellent  clothing,  with  a  misguided  benevolence, 
have  not  only  permitted  their  instruction,  but  lent  to 
such  efforts  their  approbation  and  applause. 

Religious  fanaticism  has  not  been  without  its  effect 
on  this  project,  and  as  auxilliary  to  these  sentiments,  the 
secession  of  a  large  body  of  blacks  from  the  white 
Methodist  Church,  with  feelings  of  irritation  and  dis» 


29 


appointment,  formed  a  hot-bed,  in  which  the  germ 
might  well  be  expected  to  spring  into  life  and  vigour. 
Among  the  conspirators  a  majority  of  them  belonged 
to  the  African  Church^'*'  and  among  those  executed 
were  several  who  had  been  Class  Leaders.  It  is,  how- 
ever, due  to  the  late  head  of  their  church  (for  since 
.  the  late  events  the  association  has  been  voluntarily 
dissolved)  and  their  deacons,  to  say,  that  after  the 
most  diligent  search  and  scrutiny,  no  evidence  entitled 
to  belief,  has  been  discovered  against  them.  A  hear- 
say rumour,  in  relation  to  Morris  Brown,  was  traced 
far  enough  to  end  in  its  complete  falsification. 

That  the  course  which  certain  discussions  assumed 
in  Congress  were  likewise  efficacious  in  producing 
both  discontent  and  delusion,  is  sufficiently  apparent. 
Jack  PurcelPs  confession  in  the  Appendix,  will  show  to 
what  a  purpose  Vesey  applied  those  beautiful  propo- 
sitions of  civil  and  natural  freedom,  which  were 
sported  with  a  wanton  recklessness  of  their  conse- 
quences, as  applied  to  the  condition  of  a  certain  por- 
tion of  our  common  country. 

It  is  consoling  to  every  individual,  who  is  proud  of 
the  character  of  his  country,  in  the  late  unhapp}^ 
events,  to  be  able  to  say,  that,  within  the  limits  of  the 
City  of  Charleston,  in  a  period  of  great  and  unpre- 
cedented excitement,  the  laws,  without  even  one  viola- 
tion, have  ruled  with  uninterrupted  sway — that  no  crue] 
vindictive  or  barbarous  modes  of  punishment  have 
been  resorted  to— that  justice  has  been  blended  with 
an  enlightened  humanity,  in  according  to  those  who 
had  meted  out  for  us  murder,  rapine  and  conflagration, 
in  their  most  savage  forms — trials,  which,  for  the  wis- 
dom, impartiality  and  moderation  that  governed  them, 
are  even  superior  to  those  which  the  ordinary  modes 
of  judicature  would  have  afforded  ourselves. 

With  little  to  fear,  and  nothing  to  reproach  ourselves 
we  may,  without  shrinking,  submit  our  conduct  to  the 
award  of  posterity,  and  ourselves  to  the  protection  of 
the  Supreme  Ruler  of  Events. 

*  An  appellation,  the  seceders  assumed  after  their  leaving  the 
white  Methodist  Church. 


(A.) 

Every  Slave  who  shall  raise,  or  attempt  to  raise  an  Insurrection^ 
ifi  this  Province,  or  shall  endeavour  to  delude  or  entice  any  Slave  to 
runaway  and  leave  the  Province,  every  such  Slave  and  Slaves,  and 
his  and  their  accomplices,  aiders  and  abetters,  shall,  on  conviction 
thereof,  as  aforesaid,  suffer  death.  Provided  alioays,  that  it  shall  and 
may  be  lawful,  to  and  for  the  Justices  who  shall  pronounce  sentence 
against  such  Slaves,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Free- 
holders as  aforesaid,  if  several  Slaves  shall  receive  sentence  at  one 
time,  to  mitigate  and  alter  the  sentence  of  any  Slave,  other  than  such 
as  shall  be  convicted  of  homicide  of  a  white  person,  who  they  shall 
think  may  deserve  mercy,  and  may  inflict  such  corporal  punishment 
(other  than  death)  on  any  such  Slave,  as  they  in  discretion  shall 
think  fit,  any  thing  herein  contained  to  the  contrary  thereof,  in  any 
wise  notwithstanding.  Fi^ovided,  that  one  or  more  of  the  said  Slaves 
who  shall  be  convicted  of  the  crimes  or  offence  aforesaid,  where  seve- 
ral are  concerned,  shall  be  executed  for  example,  to  deter  others 
from  offending  in  the  like  kind.    A.  A.  1740.    P.  L.  167. 

(B.) 

A  negro  man  testified  as  follows  :* — I  know  Peter,  he  belongs  to 
Mr.  James  Poyas ;  in  May  last,  Peter  and  myself  met  in  Legare  street, 
at  the  corner  of  Lambol  street,  where  the  following  conversation  took 
place — He  asked  me  the  news — I  replied,  none  that  I  know  of — He 
said,  by  George  ! jwe  can't  live  so.  I  replied,  how  will  we  do  ?  He 
said,  we  can  do  very  well,  if  you  can  find  any  one  to  assist  us — will 
you  join  ?  I  asked  him,  how  do  you  mean  ?  He  said,  why  !  to  break 
the  yoke;  I  replied,  I  don't  know.  He  asked  me, suppose  you  were 
to  hear,  that  the  whites  were  going  to  kill  you,  would  you  defend  your- 
self ?  I  replied,  I'd  try  to  escape.  He  asked,  have  you  lately  seen 
Denmark  Vesey,  ancl  has  he  spoken  to  you  particularly.  1  said  no. 
Well  then,  said  he,  that's  all  now ;  but  call  at  the  shop  to-morrow  af-- 
ter  knocking  off  work,  and  I  will  tell  you  more  !  We  then  parted. — 
I  met  him  the  next  day,  according  to  appointment,  when  he  said  to 
me,  we  intend  to  see,  if  we  can't  do  somethung  for  ourselves,  we  can't 
live  so.  I  asked  him,  where  he  would  get  men  ?  He  said,  we'll  find 
them  fast  enough,  we  have  got  enough,  we  expect  men  from  country 
and  town.  But  how,  said  I,  will  you  manage  it.  Why,  we  will  give 
them  notice,  said  he,  and  they  will  march  down  and  camp  round  the 

*  Against  this  witness,  the  Court  had  not  a  tittle  ot  testimony  ;  he  consented 
without  hesitation  to  become  a  witness,  and  to  give  all  the  information  he  pos- 
sessed ;  a  pledge  having  been  previously  given  him  by  the  Court,  that  he  should 
net  be  prosecuted,  nor  his  name  revealed.f 


31 


dty.  But  what,  said  I,  will  they  do  for  arms.  He  answered,  they 
will  find  arms  enough,  they  all  bring  down  their  hoes,  axes,  &c.  I 
said,  that  won't  do  to  fight  with  here.  He  said,  stop  !  let  us  get  can 
didates  from  town  with  arms,  and  we  will  then  take  the  Guard-House 
and  Arsenal  in  town,  the  Arsenal  on  the  Neck  and  the  Upper  Guai'd- 
House,  and  supply  the  country  people  with  arms.  How,  said  I,  will 
you  approach  those  Arsenals,  &c.  for  they  are  guarded  ?  Yes,  said  he, 
1  know  that,  but  what  are  these  guards,  one  man  here,  and  one  man 
there,  we  let  a  man  pass  before  us.  Well,  said  I,  but  how  will  the 
black  people  from  the  country,  and  those  from  the  islands,  know 
when  you  are  to  begin,  or  how  will  you  get  the  town  people  together. 
Why,  said  he,  we  will  have  prayer  meetings  at  night,  and  there  notify 
them  when  to  start,  and  when  the  clock  strikes  twelve,  all  must  move. 
But,  said  I,  the  whites  in  the  back  country,  Virginia,  &c. ;  when  they 
hear  the  news,  will  turn  to,  and  kill  you  all,  and  besides,  you  may  be 
betrayed.  Well  said  he,  what  of  that,  if  one  gets  hanged,  we  will  rise 
at  that  minute.  We  then  left  his  shop,  and  walked  towards  Broad 
street,  when  he  said,  I  want  you  to  take  notice  of  all  the  shops  and 
stores  in  town  with  arms  in  them,  take  down  their  nutfibers,  and  give 
them  to  me.    I  said,  I  will  see  to  it,  and  then  we  parted. 

About  the  1st  of  June,  I  saw  in  the  public  papers  a  statement  that 
the  white  people  were  going  to  build  missionary  houses  for  the  blacks, 
which  I  carried  and  showed  to  Peter,  and  said,  see  the  good  they  are 
going  to  do  for  us  5  when,  he  said, — What  of  that  ? — Have  you  not 
heard,  that  on  the  4th  of  July,  the  whites  are  going  to  create  a  false 
alarm  of  fire,  and  every  black  that  comes  out  will  be  killed,  in  order 
to  thin  them  ?  Do  you  think  they  would  be  so  barbarous  ?  (said  I) 
Yes  !  (said  he)  I  do  ! — I  fear  they  have  a  knowledge  of  an  army 
from  San  Domingo,  and  they  would  be  right  to  do  it  ;  to  prevent  u$ 
joining  thai  army,  if  it  should  march  towards  this  land!  I  was  then 
very  much  alarmed.  We  then  parted,  and  I  saw  no  more  of  him  till 
the  guards  were  very  strict,  (about  a  fortnight  ago.)  At  that  time  I 
saw  Peter  and  Ned  Bennett  standing  and  talking  together,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Lambol  and  Legare-streets.  They  crossed  over  and  met  me 
by  Mrs.  Myles',  and  Ned  Bennett  said  to  me — did  you  hear  what 
those  boys  were  taken  up  for  the  other  day  ?  1  replied.  No  !  but 
some  say  it  was  for  stealing.  Ned  asked  me  if  I  was  sure  I  had  never 
said  any  thing  to  the  whites  about  what  Peter  Poyas  had  spoken  to 
me  about  ?  I  replied,  No  !  Says  Peter — You  never  did  ?  No  !  I 
answered.  Says  Ned,  to  me — How  do  you  stand  ?  At  which  I 
struck  the  tree  box  with  my  knuckles  and  said,  as  firm  as  this  box — 
I'll  never  say  one  word  against  you.  Ned  then  smiled  and  nodded 
his  head,  and  said — That  will  do  ! — when  we  all  separated.  Last 
Tuesday  or  Wednesday  week,  Peter  said  to  me — You  see,  my  lad, 
how  the  white  people  have  got  to  windward  of  us  ?  You  won't,  said 
I,  be  able  to  do  any  thing.  O,  yes  !  (he  said)  we  will  !  By  George 
we  are  oblige  to  !  He  said,  all  down  this  wa^  ought  to  meet  and 
have  a  collection  to  purchase  powder.  What,  said  I,  is  the  use  of 
powder — the  whites  can  fire  three  times  to  our  once.  He  said,  but 
^twill  he  such  a  dead  time  of  the  night,  they  wonH  know  tohat  is  the 
matter,  and  our  horse  companies  will  go  about  the  streets  and  pre-- 
vent  the  wMtesfrom  assembling.    I  asked  hwH — where  will  you  get 


32 


horses  ?  Why,  said  lie,  there  are  many  butcher  boys  with  horses 
and  there  are  the  livery  stables,  where  we  have  several  candidates; 
and  the  waiting  men,  belonging  to  the  white  people  of  the  horse 
companies,  will  be  told  to  take  away  their  master's  horses.  He 
asked  me  if  my  master  was  not  a  horseman  ?  I  said,  Yes  !  Has 
he  not  got  arms  in  his  house  ?  I  answered,  Yes  !  Can't  they  be  got 
at  ?  I  said,  Yes  !  Then  (said  he)  it  is  good  to  have  them.  I  asked 
what  was  the  plan  ?  Why,  said  he,  after  we  have  taken  the  Arsenals 
and  Guard  Houses,  then  we  will  set  the  town  on  fire,  in  different 
places,  and  as  the  whites  come  out  we  will  slay  them.  If  we  were  to 
set  fire  to  the  town  first  the  man  in  the  steeple  would  give  the  alarm  too 
soon. — I  am  the  Captain,  said  he,  to  take  the  lower  Guard-House  and 
Arsenal.  But,  I  replied,  when  you  are  coming  up,  the  Centinel  will 
give  the  alarm.  He  said,  he  would  advance  a  little  distance  ahead, 
and  if  he  could  only  get  a  grip  at  his  throat,  he  was  a  gone  man,  for 
his  sword  was  very  sharp  ;  he  had  sharpened  it,  and  had  made  it  so 
sharp,  it  had  cut  his  finger,  which  he  showed  me.  As  to  the  Arsenal 
®n  the  Neck,  he  said,  that  it  was  gone  as  sure  as  fate,  Ned  Bennett, 
would  manage  that  with  the  people  from  the  country,  and  the  people 
hetween  Hihhens^  Ferry  and  Santee  tvoidd  land  and  take  the  Upper 
Guard-House.  I  then  said,  then  this  thing  seems  true.  My  man, 
said  he,  God  has  a  hand  in  it,  we  have  been  meeting  for  four  years, 
and  are  not  yet  betrayed.  I  told  him,  I  was  afraid,  after  ail,  of  the 
white  people  from  the  back  country  and  Virginia,  &c.  He  said  that 
the  blacks  would  collect  so  numerous  from  the  country,  we  need  not 
fear  the  whites  from  the  other  parts,  for  when  we  have  once  got  the 
city  we  can  keep  them  all  out.  He  asked,  if  I  had  told  my  boys. 
I  said  no.  Then  said  he,  you  should  do  it,  for  Ned  Bennett  has  his 
people  pretty  well  ranged.  But,  said  he,  take  care  and  don't  mention 
it  to  those  waiting  men  who  receive  presents  of  old  coats,  8fc.  from 
their  masters,  or  theyHl  betray  us.  I  will  speak  to  them.  We 
then  parted,  and  I  have  not  since  conversed  with  him.  He  said  the 
rising  was  to  take  place  last  Sunday  night,  (l6th  June) — That  any  of 
the  coloured  people  ivho  said  a  ivord  about  this  matter  ivould  be  killed 
hy  the  others.  The  little  man,  who  canH  be  killed,  shot  or  taken  is 
named  Jack,  a  Gullah  Negro.  Peter  said  there  was  a  French  Com- 
pany in  town  of  three  hundred  men  fully  armed — that  he  was  to  see 
Monday  Gell,  about  expediting  the  rising.  I  know  that  Mingo  went 
©ften  to  Mr.  Paul's  to  see  Edwin,  but  don't  know  if  he  spoke  with 
William.  Peter  said  he  had  a  sword,  and  I  ought  to  get  one.  He 
said  he  had  got  a  letter  from  the  country ;  I  think  from  St.  Thomas'^ 
from  a  negro  man  who  belonged  to  the  captain  of  a  militia  company, 
who  said  he  could  easily  get  the  key  of  the  house  where  the  company's 
arms  were  put  after  muster,  and  take  them  all  out,  and  help  in  that 
way.  This  business  originates  altogether  with  the  African  Congre- 
gation, in  which  Peter  is  a  leader.  When  Bennett's  Ned  asked  about 
those  taken  up,  he  alluded  particularly  to  Mr.  Paul's  William^  and 
gsked  irte  if  I  said  any  thing  to  htm  about  it. 


The  voluntary  confession  of  Rolla,  to  the  Court,  made  after  his 
tibial,  but  before  sentence  was  passed  on  Jam. 
I  know  Denmark  Vesey,  on  one  occasion,  he  asked  me  what  news  ? 
I  told  him,  none.  He  replied,  we  are  free,  but  the  white  people  here 
won't  let  us  be  so;  and  the  only  way  is,  to  raise  up  and  fight  the 
whites.  I  went  to  his  house  one  night,  to  learn  where  the  meeting;*-- 
were  held.  I  never  conversed  on  this  subject  with  Batteau  or  Ned.— - 
Vesey  told  me,  he  was  the  leader  in  this  plot.  I  never  conversed  ei- 
ther with  Peter  or  Mingo.  Vesey  induced  me  to  join.  When  I  went 
to  Vesey's  house,  there  was  a  meeting  there,  the  room  was  full  of  peo- 
ple, but  none  of  them  whhe.  That  night,  at  Vesey's,  we  determined 
to  have  arms  made,  and  each  man  to  put  in  twelve  and  a  half  cents 
towards  tiiat  purpose.  Though  Vesey's  room  was  full,  I  did  not 
know  one  individual  there.  At  this  meeting,  Vesey  said,  we  were  to 
take  the  Guard-House  and  Magazines,  to  get  arms ;  that  we  ought  to 
rise  up  against  tlie  whites  to  get  our  liberties.  He  was  the  first  to  rise 
up  and  speak,  and  he  read  to  us  from  the  Bible,  how  the  children  of 
Israel  were  delivered  out  of  Egypt  from  bondage ;  he  said,  that 
the  rising  would  take  place  last  Sunday  night  week,  ('the  iGth  June) 
and  that  Peter  Poyas  was  one. 

(C.) 

Examination  of  Sally,  a  negro  ivomun  belonging  to  Mr.  Alexander 

Hoivard. 

[  know  Jesse,  and  heard  him  speak  several  times  about  it ;  one 
day  in  particular,  he  was  anxious  to  see  his  brother,  who  has  my  mo- 
ther for  his  wife,  and  waited  until  he  came,  when  they  conversed  to- 
gether. Jesse  said,  he  had  got  a  horse  to  go  into  the  country, to  bring 
down  men  to  fight  the  white  people  ;  that  he  was  allowed  to  pass  by 
two  parties  of  the  patrol  on  the  road,  but  that  a  third  party  had 
brought  him  back,  and  that,  if  there  were  but  five  men  like  him,  they 
would  destroy  the  city.  This  was  on  last  Sunday  week,  (the  l6th 
June,)  he  said,  that  before  3  o'clock,  that  night,  all  the  white  people 
would  be  killed.  That,  if  any  person  informed,  or  would  not  join  in 
the  fight,  such  person  would  be  killed  or  poisoned.  He  frequently 
came  into  the  yard  to  see  his  brother,  and  I  threatened  to  inform,  if  he 
came  there,  and  spoke  in  that  way,  to  get  us  all  into  trouble.  We 
never  had  any  quarrel. 

Examination  of  Lot,  a  negro  man  belonging  to  Mr.  Forrester. 

I  know  Jesse;  he  met  me  last  Sunday  week  (l6th  June)  at  the 
corner  of  Boundary  street,  as  I  was  coming  into  town ;  he  said,  he 
was  going  to  get  a  horse  to  go  into  the  country.  From  what  my  mas- 
ter had  told  me  the  Thursday  before,  I  distrusted  his  errand,  and  gave 
him  a  caution.  When,  as  I  was  going  down  into  town  towards  Mr. 
Hibben's  ferry  slip,  and  conversing  with  him,  he  said,  you  shall  see  to 
night,  when  I  come  down,  what  I  am  going  up  for,  and,  if  my  own 
father  does  not  assist,  I  will  cut  off  his  head.  He  said,  he  was  going 
as  far  as  Goose  Creek  bridge,  and  would  get  ahorse  if  it  cost  him  nine 
dollars.  The  church  bells  were  then  ringing,  and  at  half  past  eleven 
o'clock,  same  day.  I  saw  him  at  Mr.  Howard's,  and  afterwards  un- 


34 


derstood  from  Sally,  that  he  had  set  off  for  the  country,  and  Jiad  beeii 
brought  back  b}^  the  Patrole. 

(D.) 

Examination  of  Frank,  a  negro  man  belonging  fo  Mrs.  Ferguson. 

I  know  Denmark  Vesey,  and  have  been  to  his  house ;  I  have  heard 
him  say,  that  the  negroe's  situation  was  so  bad,  he  did  not  know  how 
they  could  endure  it ;  and  was  astonished  they  did  not  rise  and  fight 
for  themselves,  and  he  advised  me  to  join,  and  rise.  He  said,  he  was 
going  about  to  see  different  people,  and  mentioned  the  names  of  Ned, 
Bennett  and  Peter  Poyus,  as  concerned  with  him;  that  he  had  spoken 
to  Ned  and  Peter  on  this  subject,  and  that  they  were  to  go  about  and  tell 
the  blacks,  that  they  were  free,  and  must  rise  and  fight  for  themselves : 
that  they  would  take  the  Magazines  and  Guard  Houses,  and  the  City, 
and  be  free ;  that  he  was  going  to  send  into  the  country  to  inform  the 
people  there,  too ;  he  said,  he  wanted  me  to  join  them.  I  said,  I  could 
not  answer.  He  said,  if  1  would  not  go  into  the  country  for  him,  he 
could  get  others ;  he  said,  himself,  Ned  Bennett,  Peter  Poyas  and 
Monday  Gell,  were  the  principal  men,  and  himself  the  head  man.— - 
He  said,  they  were  the  principal  men  to  go  about  and  inform  the  peo- 
ple, and  fix  them,  &c. ;  that  one  party  would  land  on  South  Bay^  one 
about  Wappoo  and  about  the  Farms  ;  that  the  party  which  was  to 
land  on  South  Bay,  was  to  take  the  Guard  House,  and  get  arms,  and 
then  they  would  he  able  to  go  on  ;  that  the  attack  was  to  commence 
about  12  o'clock  at  night;  that  great  numbers  would  come  from  all 
about,  and  it  must  succeed,  as  so  many  were  engaged  in  it ;  that  they 
would  kill  all  the  whites;  that  they  would  leave  their  masters'  houses, 
and  assemble  near  the  Lines,  march  down  and  meet  the  party  which 
would  land  on  South  Bay ;  that  he  was  going  to  send  a  man  into  the 
country  on  a  horse,  to  bring  down  the  country  people,  and  that  he 
would  pay  for  the  horse.  He  gave  two  dollars  to  Jesse,  to  get  the 
horse  on  Saturday  week  last,  (15th  June)  about  1  o'clock  in  the  day, 
and  myself  and  witness  (No.  8,)  also  put  in  25  cents  a  piece,  and  he 
told  Jesse,  if  he  could  not  go,  he  must  send  some  one  else.  I  have  seen 
Ned  Bennett  at  Vesey's.  I  one  night  met  at  Vesey's  a  great  number 
of  men,  and  as  they  came  in,  they  each  handed  him  some  money.— 
Vesey  said,  there  was  a  little  man,  named  Jack,  who  could  not  be 
killed,  and  who  would  furnish  them  with  arms  ;  he  had  a  charm,  and 
would  lead  them  ;  that  Charles  Drayton  had  promised  to  be  engaged 
with  them.  Vesey  said,  the  negroes  were  living  such  an  abominable 
life,  they  ought  to  rise.  I  said,  I  was  living  well.  He  said,  though  I 
was,  others  was  not,  and  that  it  was  such  fools  as  I,  that  were  in  their 
way,  and  would  not  help  them,  and  that,  after  all  things  were  well,  he 
would  mark  me.  He  said,  he  did  not  go  with  Creighton  to  Africa, 
because  he  had  not  a  will,  he  wanted  to  stay  and  see  what  he  could 
do  for  his  fellow  creatures.  I  met  Ned,  Monday,  and  others,  at  Den- 
mark Vesey's,  where  they  were  talking  about  this  business. 

The  first  time  I  spoke  with  Monday  Gell,  it  was  one  night  at  Den- 
mark Vesey's  house,  where  I  heard  Vesey  tell  Monday,  that  he  must 
send  some  one  into  the  country  to  bring  the  people  down,  Monday 
said,  he  had  sent  up  Jack,  and  told  him  to  tell  the  people  to  come 


36 


down  and  join  in  the  fight  against  the  whites  5  and  also  to  ascertain 
and  inform  him  who  many  people  he  could  get.  A  ff»w  days  alter,  I 
met  Vesey,  Monday  and  Jack  in  the  streets,  under  Mr.  Duncan's 
trees,  at  night,  where  Jack  stated,  he  had  been  into  the  country,  round 
by  Goose  Creek  and  Dorchester;  that-  he  had  spoken  to  6,600  per- 
sons, who  had  agreed  to  join.  Monday  said  to  Vesey,  that  if  Jack 
had  so  many  men,  they  had  better  wait  no  longer,  but  begin  the  busi- 
ness at  once,  and  others  would  join.  The  first  time  I  saw  Monday  at 
^esey's,  he  was  going  away  early,  when  Vesey  asked  him  to  stay,  to 
which  Monday  replied,  he  expected  that  night  a  meeting  at  his  house, 
to  fix  upon  and  mature  the  plan,  &;c.  and  that  he  could  stay  no  longer. 
I  afterwards  conversed  with  Monday  in  his  shop,  when  he  asked  me, 
if  I  had  heard  that  Bennett's  and  Poyas'  people  were  taken  up,  that 
it  was  a  great  pity.  He  said,  he  had  joined  in  the  business.  I  told 
him  to  take  care  he  was  not  taken  up.  Whenever  I  talked  with  Ve- 
sey, he  always  spoke  of  Monday  Gell  as  being  his  principal  and  active 
man  in  this  business. 


Examination  of  Witness  No.  10,  a  Negro  Man. 
Peter  Poyas  was  the  first  man  who  spoke  to  me,  and  asked  me  to 
join.  I  asked  him  what,  the  church  ?  He  said  no,  have  you  not  heard, 
that  the  blacks  were  joining,  to  try  and  take  the  country.  I  asked 
him,  if  he  thought  he  had  men  enough  to  do  it  ?  He  said  yes,  a  plenty 
of  men,  and  the  Society  will  contribute  money,  with  which  a  white 
man  would  purchase  guns  and  powder  for  them.  He  said  he  would 
call  back,  and  I  must  consider  if  I  would  join  them.  He  called  back, 
and  asked  me,  if  1  was  willing  now  ?  Why  Peter,  said  I,  you  have  not 
got  force  enough.  He  said,  if  I  did  not  join,  he  would  turn  all  my 
country  people  against  me.  Said  I,  if  so,  I'll  join  you,  but  you  must 
Bot  put  my  name  down,  when  you  come  out,  if  I  find  you  strong 
enough,  I'll  join  you.  Well,  said  he,  if  you  don't  join  you'll  be  kill- 
ed. Peter  and  Harry  Haig  called  on  me  afterwards,  I  was  not  at 
home ;  but  the  next  morning  I  met  Harry,  who  asked  me  for  my 
name.  I  refused  it.  He  said,  I  would  be  killed  if  I  did  not  join.  I 
said,  I  would  join  when  they  came  out,  if  they  were  stronger  than  the 
Avhites.  Harry  called  on  me  again,  and  asked  me,  if  1  was  willing 
that  the  thing  would  break  out  soon.  I  asked  him,  where  they  would 
begin  ?  He  said,  in  Boundary  street.  At  what  hour  ?  He  said,  at  12 
o'clock  at  night,  or  early  in  the  morning,  as  soon  as  the  guard  is  dis- 
charged. Jack  Pritchard  called  on  me,  he  is  sometimes  called  Gullah 
Jack,  sometimes  Couter  Jack,  he  gave  me  some  dry  food,  consisting 
of  parched  corn  and  ground  nuts,  and  said,  eat  that,  and  nothing  else, 
on  the  morning  when  it  breaks  out,  and  when  you  join  us  as  we  pass, 
put  into  your  mouth  this  crab  claw,  and  you  can't  be  wounded,  and, 
said  he,  I  give  the  same  to  the  rest  of  my  troops — if  you  drop  the  large 
crab  claw  out  of  your  mouth,  then  put  in  the  small  one.  Said  I,  when 
do  you  break  out,  and  have  you  arms.  He  said,  plenty,  but  they  are 
over  Boundary  street,  we  can't  get  at  them  now,  but  as  soon  as  the  pa- 
trol was  slack,  they  could  get  them ;  this  was  previous  to  the  l  6th 
June,  on  which  day,  he  said,  they  were  to  break  out.  On  that  day  he 


36 


came  to  me,  and  said,  they  could  not  break  oirt  that  night,  as  the  pa- 
trol was  too  strong ;  he  said,  he  would  let  me  know  when  they  were 
ready.  That  Sunday  fortnight,  the  30th  June,  he  came  to  me  and 
said,  I  must  lay  by  still,  they  would  not  break  out  then,  that  he  had 
been  round  to  all  his  company  and  found  them  cowards.  I  said,  thank 
God,  then  !  He  said,  give  me  back  my  corn  and  cu}lah,(that  is  crab 
claw).  I  said,  I  would  not,  and  upbraided  him  for  having  deluded  so 
many.  He  said,  all  his  country  born  promised  him  to  join,  because 
he  was  a  Doctor,  (that  is  a  Conjurer).  He  said,  the  white  people  was 
looking  for  him,  and  he  was  afraid  of  being  taken,  that  two  men  came 
to  his  master's  wharf,  and  asl^ed  him,  if  he  knew  Gullah  Jack,  and 
that  he  told  them,  no.  He  said,  his  charms  would  not  protect  him  from 
the  treachery  of  his  own  colour.  He  wenf^way,  and  I  have  not  seen 
him  since.  Hairy  Haig  has  since  seen  me  several  times,  and  told  me 
to  hold  myself  ready.  I  said,  I'm  ready  when  called  on.  He  said, 
all  the  draymen  came  to  his  master's  cooper  yard,  and  said  they  were 
ready,  but  he  told  them,  he  was  only  waiting  for  Gullah  Jack.  He 
said,  he  would  tell  me  when  they  were  ready,  that  they  were  only 
waiting  for  the  head  man,  who  was  a  white  man  ;  but  he,  although 
asked,  would  neither  tell  me  the  white  man's  name,  nor  where  the 
powder  and  arms  were ;  this  was  last  Tuesday,  the  very  day  the  six 
negroes  were  hanged,  about  six  o'clock,  A.  M.  this  was  the  last  time 
we  spoke,  though  I  have  seen  him  since.  I  saw  Charles  Drayton  be- 
fore the  l6th,  at  Monday  GelPs,  I  was  going  to  market,  and  Charles 
called  to  me  as  I  crossed  the  street ;  Joe,  who  has  a  wife  at  Mr.  Re- 
moussin's,  asked  me,  if  I  did  know  that  Monday  was  at  the  head  of 
the  Ebo  Company,  who  are  going  to  fight  the  white  people;  Monday- 
is  an  Ebo.  I  asked  Joe,  if  he  was  one  of  that  company.  He  said 
yes,  he  was.  I  asked  liim,  what  he  could  do,  as  he  was  an  invalid.—- 
He  said,  he  would  take  Remoussin  s  sword  and  gun,  and  tell  him  to 
lay  down  in  his  bed  and  be  quiet.  AVe  parted.  Previous  to  the  l6th 
of  June,  Monday  Gell  called  me  into  his  shop;  I  went  in,  and  said 
to  him,  I  heard  he  was  captain  of  his  countrymen's  company,  the 
Ebo's.  He  said,  he  was  a  sort  of  a  one.  1  bid  him  good  morning, 
when  he  said,  when  you  want  to  hear  the  news,  come  here.  I  never 
saw  him  afterwards. 

I  met  Charles  Drayton  on  the  1st  of  July  in  the  streets,  when  he 
said,  now  get  ready,  we  must  break  out  at  once,  for  we  will  not  let 
six  lives  be  taken.  I  asked  him,  where  they  would  begin  ?  He  said, 
in  Boundary  street,  directly  as  the  patrol  and  light  horse  turned  in. 
I  said,  had  you  not  better  wait  till  after  the  4th  of  July.  He  said,  no, 
because  in  the  mean  time  the  people  would  be  hanged.  Charles  said, 
they  had  force  enough,  and  we  parted.  I  met  him  in  Market,  be- 
twixt 8  and  9  o'clock,  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  said  to  him,  now  the 
people  are  hanged,  I  suppose  you  are  sorry  you  joined  in  the  bu- 
siness. He  said  yes,  and  we  parted.  Peter  Poyas  told  me  also,  that 
they  had  force  enough,  that  some  would  come  from  James'  and  John's 
islands,  and  sonte  from  Christ's  Church  Parish,  where  he  generally 
went  over  to  a  meeting  to  have  a  talk,  and  that  he  had  some  about  and 
in  town,  the  number  of  which  he  would  show  me  from  the  So- 
ciety books,  if  I  would  only  come  to  the  Society.  He  said,  they  were 


SI 


to  fight  the  whites,  and  keep  on  fighting,  till  the  English  came  to  help 
them.  Harry  told  me  the  same  thing.  Jack  being  the  head  man,  I 
asked  him  about  the  plan,  he  told  me  the  same  thing ;  that  the  Eng- 
lish were  to  come  here  to  help  them,  that  the  Americans  could  do 
nothing  against  the  English,  and  that  the  English  would  carry  them 
off  to  St.  Domingo.  Monday  and  Charles  were  very  great  together. 
John,  Mr.  Horry-s  coachman,  came  to  me  one  day,  and  asked  me 
what!  thought?  Every  one  is  ready,  said  John,  to  fight  the  whites, 
are  you  ready  ?  He  said,  I  am  ready.  This  took  place  sometime  be- 
fore the  l6th  June,  and  every  day  he  asked  me  the  same  questions.— 
About  this  time  George  Vanderhorst  came  to  me  and  said,  they  were 
going  to  take  the  country,  and  he  had  joined ;  that  he  was  ready 
whenever  the  blacks  broke  out.  He  requested  me  to  let  him  sleep  at 
my  wife's  house  near  Boundary  street ;  I  saw  him  almost  every  day 
after  the  l6th  June,  and  he  always  said,  he  was  ready  whenever  the 
troops  were  ready.  On  the  l6th  June,  Jack  requested  me  to  let 
twelve  men  sleep  at  my  wife's,  as  they  were  to  break  out  that  night, 
and  he  wanted  them  to  be  near  Boundary  street.  On  being  refused, 
he  departed  in  anger,  and  reproached  me.  George  called  on  me  yes- 
terday morning,  and  asked,  if  I  knew  that  Charles  Drayton  was  taken 
up,  and  said,  he  was  afraid  Charles  \vould  name  him,  not  because  he 
was  on  his  list,  for  he  had  joined  Jack's  company,  but  because  Charles 
had  met  him  at  Guliah  Jack's,  when  they  were  consulting  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  that,  if  he  could  near  that  Charles  had  named  him,  he  would 
run  off.  On  Monday,  1st  July,  Charles  Drayton  told  me,  that  there 
would  be  an  insurrection  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  July,  as  soon  as 
the  Guard  turned  in  ;  he  said,  he  commanded  the  country  born  com- 
pany. Jack  told  me  on  the  1st  July  the  same  thing,  and  in  addition, 
that  they  were  to  rush  in  with  their  dirks,  guns  and  swords,  &c.  they 
had  got,  Idll  the  City  Guard,  and  take  all  the  arms  in  the  arsenals  5 
he  also  said,  there  vt^ere  some  arras  in  King  street,  beyond  Boun- 
dary street,  in  possession  of  a  white  man,  which  they  intended  to 
take,  (alluding  to  the  arms  of  the  Charleston  Neck  Company,  de- 
posited at  Wharton's,  in  King  street).  Charles  Drayton  said,  he 
had  prepared  for  himself  a  gun  and  a  sword.  Jolin  Horry  came  to  me 
very  often,  and  once  said,  he  had  a  sword,  and  that,  as  soon  as  it 
broke  out,  he  would  go  up  stairs  and  kill  his  master  and  family.  On 
the  17th  of  June,  on  his  carriage  box,  he  expressed  liimself  to  me  in 
the  same  manner  he  had  done  previous  to  the  l6th.  The  blacks 
would  have  risen  on  the  night  of  the  l6th,  had  tiie  Guards  not  been  so 
strong  ;  this  I  know  from  Gullah  Jack  and  Harry  Haig,|who  said,  that 
if  the  Guards  were  not  too  strong,  they  would  get  the  arms  near  the 
Lines,  but  if  the  Guards  were  out,  they  could  not  get  them  to  break 
out  with. 

(F-) 

Confession  0/ Harry  Haig. 
Julius  Forrest,  and  myself,  always  worked  together.    Gullah  Jack 
calls  himself  a  negro  doctor,  he  induced  Julius  and  myself  to  join  at 
last,  but  at  first  we  refused ;  before  the  l6th  June,  Jack  appointed  to 
meet  us  at  Bulkley's  Farm  5  when  we  got  there.  Jack  was  not  there. 


38 


but  Peter  Poyas  came ;  we  broke  up  at  day  light.  Not  quite  a  month 
before  the.  1 6th  June,  Jack  met  me,  and  talked  about  war.  I  asked 
Jack,  how  lie  would  do  for  arms?  Bye  and  bye,  said  Jack,  we  will 
have  arms ;  he  said,  he  would  have  some  arms  made  at  the  black- 
smiths. Jack  was  going  to  give  *  *  #  *  # 
*       *       *       *       #       *       #        #        *       #  # 

*********  Until  Jack 
was  taken  up  and  condemned  to  death,  I  was  just  like  I  was  bound 
up,  and  had  not  the  power  to  speak  one  word  about  it.  Jack  charm- 
ed JuHus  and  myself  at  last,  and  we  then  consented  to  join.  Tom 
Russell,  the  blacksmith  and  Jack  are  partners,  (in  conjuring)  Jack 
learnt  him  to  be  a  doctor.  Tom  talked  to  Jack  about  the  fighting, 
and  agreed  to  join,  and  those  two  brought  Juhus  and  myself  to  agree 
to  it.  .^ack  said,  Tom  was  his  second,  and  "  when  you  don't  see  me, 
"  and  see  Tom,  you  see  one."  Jack  said,  Tom  was  making  arms  for 
the  black  people  5  Jack  said,  he  would  not  be  killed,  nor  could  a  white 
man  take  him. 


(H.) 

Confession  of  Jesse,  the  slave  of  Thomas  Blackwood,  Esqr. ;  fur- 
nished to  the  Court  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Hall. 

I  was  invited  to  Denmark  Vesey's  house,  and  when  I  went,  I  found 
several  men  met  together,  among  whom  was  Ned  Bennett,  Peter  Poy-^ 
as,  and  otheis,  whom  I  did  not  know.  Denmark  opened  the  meeting 
by  saying,  he  had  an  important  secret  to  communicate  to  us,  which 
we  must  not  disclose  to  any  one,  and  if  we  did,  we  should  be  put  to 
instant  death.  He  said,  we  were  deprived  of  our  rights  and  privi- 
leges by  the  white  people,  and  that  our  church  was  shut  up,  so  that  we 
could  not  use  it,  and  that  it  was  high  time  for  us  to  seek  for  our  rights, 
and  that  we  were  fully  able  to  conquer  the  v.  hites,  if  we  were  only  un- 
animous and  courageous,  as  the  St.  Domingo  people  were.  He  then 
proceeded  to  explain  his  plan,  by  saying,  liiat  they  intended  to  make 
the  attack  by  setting  the  governor's  mills  on  fire,  and  also  some  houses 
near  the  water,  and  as  soon  as  the  bells  began  to  ring  for  fire,  that  they 
should  kill  every  man,  as  he  came  out  of  his  door,  and  that  the  ser- 
vants in  the  yards  should  do  it,  and  that  it  should  be  done  with  axes 
and  clubs,  and  afterwards  they  should  murder  the  women  and  children, 
for  he  said,  God  had  so  commanded  it  in  the  Scriptures.  At  another 
meeting  at  Denmark's,  Ned  Bennett  and  Peter  Poyas,  and  several 
others  were  present  in  conversation,  some  said,  they  thought  it  was 
cruel  to  kill  the  ministers,  and  the  women  and  children,  but  Denmark 
Vesey  said,  he  thought  it  was  for  our  safety,  not  to  spare  one  w  hite 
skin  alive,  for  this  was  the  plan  they  pursued  in  St.  Domingo.  He 
then  said  to  me.  Jesse,  I  want  you  to  go  into  the  country,  to  enlist  as 
many  of  the  country  negroes  as  possible,  to  be  in  readiness  to  come 
down  to  assist  us.  I  told  him,  I  had  no  horse,  and  no  mone}^  to  hire 
one ;  he  then  took  out  two  dollars,  and  gave  them  to  me  to  hire  a 
horse,  and  told  me  to  enlist  as  many  as  possible.  I  got  the  horse  the 
next  Sabbath,  and  started,  but  the  guard  was  so  strict,  I  could  not  pass 


S9 


them  without  being  taken  up;  so  I  returned,  and  told  ©cnmark,  at 
which  he  expressed  liis  sorrow,  and  said,  the  business  was  urgent,  for 
they  wanted  the  country  people  to  be  armed,  that  they  might  attack 
the  Forts  at  the  same  time,  and  also  to  take  every  ship  and  vessel  in 
the  harbor,  and  to  put  every  man  to  death,  except  the  captains.  For^ 
said  he,  it  will  not  be  safe  to  stay  in  Charleston,  for  as  soon  as  they  had 
got  all  the  money  out  of  the  banks,  and  the  goods  out  of  the  stores  on 
board,  they  intended  to  sail  for  St.  Domingo;  for  he  had  a  promise, 
that  they  would  receive  and  protect  them.  This  Jesse  asserted  to  me, 
was  the  truth,  whilst  the  tears  were  running  down  his  cheeks, 
and  he  appeared  truly  penitent;  and  I  have  reason  to  hope, 
that  he  obtained  pardon  from  God,  through  the  merits  of  Christ,  and 
was  prepared  to  meet  his  fate  with  confidence,  and  that  he  was  ac- 
cepted of  God.  At  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  execution,  I  vi- 
sited all  the  prisoners  condemned,  and  found  Jesse  at  prayers.  He 
told  me,  his  mind  was  placid  and  calm ;  he  then  assured  me,  that 
what  he  had  told  me  was  the  truth,  and  that  he  was  prepared  to  meet 
his  God. 

(K.) 

CONFESSION  OF  MONDAY  CELL, 

I  come  out  as  a  man  who  knows  he  is  about  to  die — some  time  after  Christmas 
Vesey  passed  my  door,  he  called  in  and  said  to  me,  that  he  was  trying  to  gathei- 
the  blacks  to  try  and  see  if  any  thing  could  be  done  to  overcome  the  whites  ; 
he  asked  me  to  join  ;  \  asked  him  his  plan  and  his  numbers ;  he  said  he  had 
Peter  Poyas,  Ned  Bennett,  and  Jack  Purcell ;  he  asked  me  to  join  ;  I  said  no  ; 
he  left  me  and  I  saw  him  not  for  some  time.  About  four  or  five  weeks  ago  as 
I  went  up  Went  worth  street,  Frank  Ferguson  met  me,  and  said  he  had  four 
plantation's  of  people  who  he  was  to  go  for  on  Saturday,  15th  June.  How,  said 
1,  will  you  bring  them  down  ;  he  said  through  the  woods  ;  he  asked  me  if  I  was 
going  towards  Vesey's  to  ask  Vesey  to  be  at  home  that  evening,  and  he  would 
be  there  to  tell  him  his  success.  I  asked  Jack  Purcell  to  carry  this  message,  he 
said  he  would  ;  that  same  evening  at  my  bouse  I  met  Vesey's  mulatto  boy,  he 
told  me  Vesey  wished  to  see  me,  I  w^ent  with  him  ;  when  I  went  into  Vesey's  I 
met  Ned  Bennett,  Peter  Poyas,  and  Frank  Ferguson,  and  Adam,  and  Gullah 
Jack;  they  were  consulting  about  the  plan;  Frank  told  Vesey  on  Saturday, 
loth,  he  would  go  and  bring  down  the  people  and  lodge  them  near  town  in 
the  woods  ;  the  plan  was  to  arm  themselves  by  breaking  open  the  stores  with 
arms.  I  then  told  Vesey  I  would  join  them,  after  sometime  I  told  them  I  had 
some  business  of  my  own  and  asked  them  to  excuse  me,  i  went  aw^ay,  and  only 
then  was  I  ever  there.  One  evening,  Perault  Strohecker,  and  Bacchus  Hammett 
brought  to  my  shop  a  keg,  and  asked  me  to  let  it  stay  there  till  they  sent  for  it ; 
I  said  yes,  but  did  not  know  the  contents ;  the  next  evening  Gullah  Jack  came 
and  took  away  the  keg,  this  was  before  the  16th  June ;  since  I  have  been  in 
prison  I  learnt  that  the  keg  contained  powder. 

Pharo  Thompson  is  concerned,  and  he  told  me,  a  day  or  two  after  Ned  aral 
Peter  were  taken  up,  if  he  could  get  a  fifty  dollar  bill,  he  would  run  away  ;  about 
two  Sundays  before  I  was  brought  here,  he  asked  me,  in  Archdale-street,  when 
shall  we  be  like  those  while  people  in  the  church;  1  said  when  it  pleased  God  ; 
Sunday  before  I  was  taken  up,  he  met  me  as  I  came  out  of  Archdale  Church, 
and  took  me  into  a  stable  in  said  street,  and  told  me  he  told  his  master,  who  had 
asked  him,  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  in  this  alfair  ;  which  was  a  lie,  William 
Colcock  came  to  my  shop  once  and  said  a  brother  told  him  that  five  hundred 
men  were  making  up  for  the  same  purpose.  Frank  said  he  was  to  send  to  Hefl- 
Hole  Swamp  to  get  men 

Perault  Strohecker  is  engaged  ;  he  used  to  go  of  a  Sunday  on  horse  back  up 
the  road  to  a  man  he  knows  on  the  same  errand.  One  Sunday  he  asked  me  to 
go  with  him ;  I  went  and  Smart  Anderson  ;  we  went  to  a  small  house  a  little 


40 


way  from  *h(i  road  aiter  you  turn  into  the  ship  yard  road,  on  its  left  band ;  they 
too  went  into  the  stable  witli  an  old  man  that  lived  there,  I  remained  in  the 
yard;  they  remained  in  the  stable  about  half  an  hour  ;  as  soon  as  they  came  out, 
I  and  Peirault  started  to  town  to  go  to  church,  and  left  Smart  there  ;  I  was 
told  by  Denbow  Martin,  who  has  a  wife  in  Mr.  Smith's  house,  that  Stephen 
Smith  belonged  to  some  of  the  gangs. 

Saby  Gaillard  is  concerned;  he  met  me  on  the  Bay,  before  the  16th  of  June  and 
gave  me  a  piece  of  paper  from  his  pocket;  this  paper  was  about  the  batth?  that 
Boyer  had  in  St.  Domingo  ;  in  a  day  or  two  he  called  on  me  and  asked  if  I  had 
read  it,  and  said  if  he  had  as  many  men  he  would  do  the  same  too,  as  he  could 
whif)  ten  white  men  himself;  he  frequently  came  to  me  to  speak  about  this  mat- 
ter, and  at  last  1  had  to  insult  him  out  of  the  shop  ;  he  and  Paris  Ball  was  often 
together.  A  week  before  I  was  taken  up,  Paris  told  me  that  my  name  was 
called. 

Billy  Palmer  and  Vesey  were  constantly  together;  there  was  once  in  my  shop 
a  long  talk  between  them  about  this  same  matter  ;  1  begged  them  to  stop  it ; 
Vesey  told  him  to  try  to  get  as  many  as  he  could  ;  he  said  he  would. 

John  Vincent  told  me  that  Edward  Johnson,  n  free  man.  had  said,  as  he  was 
a  free  man  he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  slaves,  but  the  night  they  began 
he  would  join  them. 

I  lold  Charles  Drayton  what  uproar  there  was  about  this  business,  and  since 
we  have  been  here  we  have  talked  together. 

Albert  Inglis  came  to  me  and  asked  it  1  knew  any  thing  about  it;  I  said  ye.s. 
He  asked  me  if  1  had  joined  ;  I  said  yes  ;  he  said  he  was  one  also ;  he  said 
Adam,  a  free  man  wanted  to  see  me,  I  went  with  him  one  night;  Adam  asked 
me  how  many  men  hadjoined  ;  I  told  him  what  Frank  Ferguson  had  said  ;  he 
asked  me  if  I  believed  it ;  1  said  yes  ;  he  said  if  he  could  only  find  men  behind 
him  he  w^ould  go  before.  Previous  to  the  16th,  Albert  said  to  me  quit  the 
business  ;  I  told  him  I  w^as  too  far  into»it,  so  I  must  slick  to  it 

I  never  wrote  to  St.  Domingo*  or  any  where  else  on  this  subject,  nor  kept  a 
list  or  books,  nor  saw  any  such  things,  but  heard  that  Paul's  William  had  a  list, 
nor  did  I  hear  any  thing  about  arms  being  in  possession  of  the  blacks.  I  don't 
know  that  Tom  Russel  made  pikes,  nor  that  Gullah  Jack  had  any  of  them. 

Lewis  Remoussin  called  at  my  shop  and  asked  me  to  call  at  his  house,  he 
had  something  to  tell  me,  but  I  did  not  go  ;  Jack  Glen  told  me  he  was 
engaged. 

I  met  Scipio  Sims  one  Sunday,  coming  from  the  country,  who  said  he 
had  been  near  the  Savannah's  to  Mr.  Middleton's  place  ;  I  heard  afterwards 
that  his  errand  was  on  this  business. 

I  know  John  the  cooper,  who  said  he  was  engaged  too  in  this  business. 

William  Garner  said  he  was  engaged  in  it  and  had  got  twelve  or  thirteen 
draymen  to  join. 

Sandy  Vesey  told  me  he  belonged  to  it  too. 

At  Vesey's  house,  Frank  told  Gullah  Jack,  to  put  one  ball  and  three  buck 
shot  in  each  cartridge. 

Mingo  Harth  acknowledged  to  me  that  he  had  joined,  and  Peter  Poyas  told 
me  so  too;  he,  Mingo,  told  me  so  several  times  ;  Mingo  said  he  was  to  have  his 
master's  horse  on  the  night  of  the  16th. 

Lot  Forrester  told  me  frequently  that  he  was  one  of  the  company,  and  I 
know  that  he  had  joined  in  the  business  myself  Isaac  Harth  told  me  once 
that  he  hadjoined,  he  knew  I  was  in  the  business. 

Morris  Brown  knew  nothing  of  it,  and  we  agreed  not  to  let  him,  Harry 

Drayton,  or  Charles  Corr,  know  anything  about  it.  lold  me  in  my 

store  that  he  was  to  get  some  powder  from  his  master  and  give  it  to  Peter 
Poyas  ;  he  seemed  to  have  been  a  long  time  engaged  in  it,  and  to  know  a 
great  deal.  Joe  Jore  acknowledged  to  me  once  or  twice  that  he  had  joined, 
he  said  he  knew  some  of  the  Frenchmen  concerned;  he  knew  I  was  in  it. 

*  Perault  unhesitatingly  slated  to  Monday's  face,  that  he  had  written  two  letters, 
to  St.Domingo,  and  that  he  {Perault)  had  gone  toVanderhorsts  wharf  with  him,  in 
Mf  ril  or  May  last,  to  give  them  in  charge  of  a  black  cook  on  board  of  a  schooner 
bound  to  that  island.  J^fter  Monday  was  so  charged,  he  confessed  that  the  fact  wa^ 
so,  and  that  he  had  been  induced  to  conceal  it  under  an  apprehension  that  if  it 
were  knoivn  hs  had  bem  guilty  of  such  an  act  all  chance  of  m&rcy  would  be  denied 
him 


41 


(L) 

THE  CONFESSION  OF  JACK  PURCELL. 

if  it  had  not  been  for  the  cunning  of  that  old  villian  Vesey,  I  should  not 
now  be  in  my  present  situation.  He  employed  every  stratagem  to  induce  me 
to  join  hira.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  reading  to  me  all  the  passages  in  the 
n-ewspapers  that  related  to  St.  Domingo,  and  apparently  every  pamphlet  he  could 
lay  his  hands  on,  that  had  any  connection  with  slavery.  He  one  day  brought 
me  a  speech  which  he  told  me  had  been  delivered  in  Congress  by  a  Mr.  King 
on  the  subject  of  slavery ;  he  told  me  this  Mr  King  was  the  black  man'sfriend, 
that  he  Mr.  Kir?g  had  declared  he  would  continue  to  speak,  write  and  publish 
pamphlets  against  slavery  the  longest  day  he  lived,  until  the  Southern  States 
consented  to  emancipate  their  slaves,  for  that  slavery  was  a  great  disgraee 
to  the  country. 

(M.) 

CONFESSION  OF  JOHN  ENSLOW. 

Monday  Gell  led  me  in  it  and  took  me  toV^sey's;  there  was  alarge  meeting; 
Vesey  told  the  meeting  the  people  was  to  rise  up  and  fight  the  white  [)eople 
for  their  liberty  :  we  aKvays  went  to  Monday's  house  afterwards  ;  Monday  did 
all  the  writing ;  I  heard  they  were  ti'ying  all  round  the  country  to  George- 
town, Santee,  and  round  to  Combahee.  Jkc.  about  to  get  people  ;  Peter  was 
also  there,  he  was  one  ;  Peter  named  Poyas'  plantation,  where  he  went  to 
meet;  BeliisleYates  1  have  seen  at  the  meetiiigs,  and  Adam  Yates,  Naphur  Yates, 
Dean  Mitchell,  Ccesar  Smith  and  George  (a  Stevidore.)  At  Vesey's  they  wanted 
to  make  a  collection  to  make  pikes  for  the  country  people,  but  the  men  had 
no  money  !  Monday  Gell  said  Purcell  wars  one  to  get  horses  to  send  men  into 
the  country  ;  I  heard  a  blacksmith  was  to  make  pikes.  Jack  M'lNeil  is  engaged; 
I  have  seen  them  all  at  Monday's;  Jack  said  he  was  one  and  would  try  to  get 
men  ;  the  plan  was  to  take  the  Arsenals  and  Guard  Houses  for  arras,  and  not 
to  fire  the  town  unless  they  failed;  Monday  was  writing  a  letter  to  St.  Domingo, 
to  go  by  a  vessel  lying  at  Gibb's  and  Harper's  wharf;  the  letter  was  about  the 
sufferings  of  the  blacks,  and  to  know  if  the  people  of  St.  Domingo  would  help 
them  it  they  made  an  effort  to  free  themselves  ;  he  was  writing  this  letter  in 
March,  lam  Aot  certain  of  the  time  ;  Perault  was  present  when  Monday  wrote 
the  letter,  and  also  a  painter,  named  Prince  Righton ;  1  have  seen  Pompey 
Haig  at  Mondays,  but  he  neither  assented  or  dissented  ;  Jerry  Cohen  was  at 
Vesey's,  and  said  to  me  he  was  one  ;  1  heard  from  Vesey  and  Monday  that  they 
had  engaged  men  from  the  country;  Peter  Poyas  said  he  had  sent  into  the 
country  to  his  brother  to  engage  men,  who  would  send  him  an  answer ;  a 
party  was  to  attack  the  Guard  House  and  Ai-senal ;  another  the  Arsenal  oih 
the  Neck  ;  another  the  Naval  Stores  on  Mey's  wharf ;  another  to  attack  the 
Magazine  ;  another  to  meet  at  Lightwood's  Alley  and  then  try  to  cut  off  the 
companies  from  meeting  at  their  places  of  rendezvous;  I  belong  to  the  African 
Congregation  ;  on  Saturday  the  ioth  June,  a  man  was  to  be  sent  into  the 
country  to  bring  down  the  people,  and  Rolla  was  to  command  the  country 
people  from  Ashley  River  at  the  Bridge;  Ned  Bennett  and  John  Horry  tr» 
raeet  at  iMr.  Horry's  corner,  and  Battean  ta  come  down  with  Vesey's  party 


42 


(S) 


CLASS  No.  1. 

Comprises  those  prisoners  who  were  found  guilty  and  executed. 


OwTiCTS^  l^dfnes. 

Time  of 

Comimt, 

Peter 

James  Poyas 

June  18 

Ned 

Gov.  T.  Bennett, 

do. 

Rolla 

do. 

do 

Batteau 

do. 

do. 

Denmark  Vesey 

A  free  black  man 

22 

Jessy 

Thos.  Blackwood 

23 

John 

Elias  Horry 

July  5 

Gullah  Jack 

Paul  Pritchard 

do. 

Mingo 

Wm.  Harth 

June  21 

Lot 

Forrester 

27 

Joe 

P.  L.  Jore 

July  6 

Julius 

Thos.  Forrest 

8 

Tom 

Mrs.  Russell 

10 

Smart 

Robt.  Anderson 

do. 

John 

John  Robertson 

11 

Robert 

do. 

do. 

Adam 

do. 

do. 

Polydore 

Mrs.  Faber 

do. 

Bacchus 

Benj.  Hammet 

do. 

Dick 

Wm.  Sims 

13 

Pharaoh 

—  Thompson 

do. 

Jemmy 

Mrs.  Clement 

18 

Mauidore 

Mordecai  Cohen 

19 

Dean 

—  Mitchell 

do. 

Jack 

Mrs.  Purcell 

12 

Bellisle 

Est.  of  Jos.  Yates 

18 

Naphur 

do. 

do. 

Adam 

do. 

do. 

Jacob 

John  S.  Glen 

!  1^ 

Charles 

John  Billings 

1  18 

Jack 

N.  xMcNeill 

1  22 

Csesar 

Miss  Smith 

do. 

Jacob  Stagg 

Jacob  Lankester 

23 

Tom 

Wm.  M.  Scott 

24 

William 

Mrs.  Garner 

Aug.  2 

How  Disposed  of 


Hanged  on  Tuesday 
the  2d  July,  1822, 
on  Blake's  lands, 
near  Charleston. 

Do  on  theLines  near 
Ch.  5  Friday  July  12. 


Hanged  on  the  Lines 
near  Charleston, 
on  Friday,  26th 
July. 


Do.  Tues.  July  30. 
Do,  Friday,  Aug.  9. 


43 


CLASS  No.  2. 

Comprises  those  prisoners  who  were  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to 
death,  but  recommended  to  the  mercy  of  the  Executive,  by  the 
Court  of  Magistrates  and  Freeholders, 

0^  They  have  been  respited  to  the  25  day  of  October,  1822, 
with  a  view  to  the  commutation  of  their  punishment  to  banishment 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 


Prisoners  Names. 

Owners^  Names. 

Tifne  of 
Commit. 

How  Disposed  of 

Louis 

Seymour 

Saby  Gaillard 

Isaac 

Paris 

Peter 

Dublin 

George 

Sandy 

Cromwell 
Kunhardt 
A  free  black  man 
Wm.  Harth 
Mrs.  Ball 
Mrs.  Cooper 
C.  G.  Morris 
—  Bampfield 
Jacob  Schnell 

July  12 
do. 

13 

do. 

15 

do. 

18 

do. 

19 

Respited  until  the 
25th  of  October; 
>    and  now  confined 
in  theWork  House 
of  Charleston. 

J 

CLASS  No.  3. 

Comprises  those  prisoners  who  were  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to 
death,  but  since  respited  by  the  Executive,  until  the  25th  of  Oct, 
loith  a  view  to  the  commutation  of  their  punishment,  to  banishment 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 

Prisoners  Names. 

Owners^  Names. 

Time  of 
Commit. 

How  Disposed  of 

William 
John  Vincent 
Billy  Robinson 

Job  Palmer 

D.  Cruckshanks 

P.  Robinson 

July  1 8 

23 

do. 

1  Respited  till  Oct.  25, 
>  and  now  in  the  Work 
3  House. 

44 


CLASS  No.  4. 

Comprises  those  prisoners  who  wei^e  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  Im, 
transported^  beyond  the  liinits  of  the  United  States,  by  their  mas" 
ters,  under  the  direction  of  the  City  Council. 


Trisoners  Names. 

Owners'  Names. 

Time  of 
Commit. 

How  Disposed  of 

William 

Edwin 

Monday 

Charles 

Harry 

Frank 

George 

Perault 

Billy 

John 

Scipio 

Agrippa 

Nero 

Sam,  Bainsill 
Dembo 

Adam  Bellamy 

Jack 

George 

Harry 

George 

Pompey 

John  Paul 
do. 

John  Gell 
Hon.  J.  Drayton 
David  Haig 
Mrs.  Ferguson 

—  Theus 

—  Strohecker 
S.  Bulkley 

—  Enslow 
Wm.  Sims 
Mrs.  Perry 
David  Haig 

—  Bainstill 
J.  N.  Martin 
J.  H.  Merritt 
Wm.  Cattell 

—  Evans 

—  Butler 
Sam.  Parker 
Rjchd.  Lord 

JVlay  31 
June  24 
27 
July  21 
5| 

June  27, 
July  6 
10 

do. 

13 

do. 

19 

23 

do. 

25 
Aug.  3 
5 
6 

do. 
do. 

5 

>  Confined  in  the  W. 
5  House. 

)  Do.  and  Sentenced  to 

>  death,  commuted  to 
\  banishment  out  U.  5 

Confined  ni  the  W. 
House. 

3 

CLASS  No.  5. 

Co?nprises  those  who  were  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  he  trans- 
ported  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State  of  South-Carolina. 

Prisoners  Names. 

Oivners^  Names. 

Time  of 
Commit. 

Hoiv  Disposed  of 

Prince  Graham 

A  free  black  man 

July  21 

Sentenced  to  be  im- 
prisoned one  month 
in  the  W.House,  and 
then  transported  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the 
State. 

This  man  will  go  out  of  the  CJ.  States  at  his  own  request, 
under  the  direction  of  the  City  Council. 


46 

CLASS  No. 


6. 


Comprises  tliose  prisoners  who  were  acquitted  hy  the  Court,  their 
guilt  not  being  fully  proved.  The  Court,  however,  have  sugges- 
ted to  their  owners,  the  propriety  of  transporting  them  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  United  States. 


Prisoners  Names. 


Otvners^  Names. 


Time  of 
Commit. 


How  Disposed  of. 


Buonaparte 

Abraham 

Butcher 

John 

Prince 

Quash  Harleston 

Harry  Purse 

Paoza 

Liverpool 


Francis  Mulhgan 
Dr.  Poyas 
Jas.  L.  Gibbes 
Mrs.  Taylor 
Miss  Righton 
A  free  black  man 

Wm.  Purse 
—  Mitchell 
Mrs.  Hunt 


July  1 1 
June  22 
July  1 1 
13 
19 
29 


o.  7 


]  Acquitted  by  Court, 
I  master  desired  to 
transport,  and  now 
in  the  work-house 
Charleston. 
—By  arrangement  with 
Council  J  gone  out 
^  of  the  U.  S. 
^  Arranged  with  owner 
^  to  be  transported. 


CLASS  No.  7.  ■  - 

Comprises  those  prisoners  ivho  were  acquitted  by  the  Court  of 
Magistrates  and  Freeholders — and  discharged. 


Prisoners  Names. 

Owners''  Names. 

Time  of 
Commit. 

How  Disposed  of. 

_ — r —  

Amnerst 

Mrs.  Liinmg 

J  une  I  o 

Mungo 

Jas.  Poyas 

do. 

Stephen 

Tho.  R.  Smith 

do. 

Matthias 

Gov.  T.  Bennett 

do. 

Jeffrey  Grant 

A  free  black  man 

20 

Brand 

Jon.  Lucas 

do. 

Richard 

do. 

17 

John 

do. 

do. 

Rob.  Hadden 

A  free  coPd.  man 

22 

Sam.  Guifford 

do. 

do. 

Pompey 

John  Bryan 

28 

Adam 

Mrs.  Ferguson 

27 

Harry 

—  Harleston 

Peter 

Mrs.  Ward 

July  10 

^  Acquitted  and 

Sandy 

Francis  Curtis 

11 

Isaac 

Paul  Trapier 

do. 

Discharged; 

Charles 

Mrs.  Shrubrick 

do. 

Cutfy 

Charles  Graves 

do. 

Pierre  Louis 

Mons.  Chapeau 

18 

Caesar 

Mrs.  Parker 

19 

William 

Mrs.  Colcock 

12 

Pompey 

David  Haig 

June  23 

Friday 

Mrs.  Rout 

Philander  Michau 

A  free  col'd.  man 

Aug.  3 

Edward  Johnson 

A  free  black  man 

do. 

Stephen  Walker 

—  Walker 

5 

James 

do. 

do. 

Harry 

J.  NeU 

6 

46 


CLASS  No.  8. 

Comprises  iJiose  prisoners  who  loere  discharged  after  their  arrest 
hi)  the  Committee  of  Vigilance,  the  testimony  against  them  not 
being  sufficient  to  bring  them  to  trial. 


Ti77ie  of 
Commit 

How  Disposed  of. 

Hercules 

—  Clark 

June  20 

Discharged^ 

June  28 

Jim 

J.  H.  Ancrum 

22 

do. 

25 

Sandy 

H.  P.  Holmes 

25 

do. 

26 

Lemon 

—  Houston 

23 

do. 

25 

Rob.  Nesbitt 

A  free  man 

July  3 

do. 

July  5 

Patrick 

Mrs.  Datea 

4 

do. 

6 

Thomas 

S.  Magwood 

5 

do. 

8 

Charles 

F.  G.  Deliesseline 

8 

do. 

10 

AViiham 

—  Adger 

10 

do. 

20 

Smart 

Mrs.  Ward 

do. 

do. 

27 

Mungo 

Wm.  Loundes 

11 

do. 

20 

Thomas 

A.  Lord 

do. 

do. 

13 

Bob 

—  Hibben 

13 

do. 

27 

Albert 

Thos.  Ingles 
—  Happoldt 

15 

do. 

17 

Jim 

do. 

'  do. 

29 

John 

—  Gates 

do. 

do. 

a 

Charles 

—  Hasell 

do. 

do. 

« 

James 

—  Dowling 

17 

do. 

a 

Prince 

do. 

do. 

do. 

(( 

Billy 

—  Fordham 

20 

do. 

25 

Ben 

• —  Cammer 

22 

do. 

27 

William 

— =  Cromwell 

do. 

do. 

6i 

Stephen 

—  Harper 

26 

do. 

C( 

Louis 

John  Gell 

July  18 

do. 

July  20 

Pompey 

John  Bryan 

Aug.  5 

do. 

August  5 

RECAPITULATION. 

Number  of  Prisoners  executed        :       :       :       :        :  35 
"  respited  until  the  25th  October,  1822,  with  a  view  > 

to  the  commutation  of  their  punishment  ^ 
"  sentenced  to  be  transported  by  their  owners  under  > 

direction  of  the  City  Council       :        :         S  ^ 
'^^  sentenced  lo  be  transported  beyond  the  limits  of  >  ^ 

the  State       :       :       :       :       :       :  ^ 
"  acquitted,  propriety  of  transportion  suggested  to  ^ 

their  owners,  and  those  whose  masters  have  >  9 

agreed  to  transport  without  trial      :      •    •  j 
acquitted  and  discharged  by  the  Court    :    :    :    :  27 
«  "  «        by  Committee  of  Vigilance  25 

Whole  number  arrested  :  :  :  :  -  131 
Respectfully  suhrmtted  by 

FftED.  Wesner,  Tho.  D.  Condy,  Tho.  Napier,  ?  Com.  of 
Samuel  Burger,  Edwarb  P.  Simons^  S  Vigilante 


47 


SENTENCE. 

9f/i  Jul]^,  1822. — Jack,  a  slave  belonging  to  Paul  Prilchard,  commonly  called 
GcLLAH  Jack,  and  sometimes  CoutiIr  Jack,  was  brought  up,  and  sentencepro- 
nounced  by  L.  H.  KENiNEDY,  Presiding  Magistrate. 

JACK  PmTCHARD— The  Court,  after  deliberately  considering  all  the  ciF- 
cumstances  of  your  case,  are  perfectly  satisfied  of  your  guilt.  In  the  prosecution 
of  your  wicked  designs,  you  were  not  satisfied  with  resorting  to  natural  and  or- 
dinary means,  bat  endeavored  to  enlist  on  your  behalf,  all  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, and  employed  for  that  purpose,  the  most  disgusting  mummery  and  super 
stition.  You  represented  yourself  as  invulnerable  ;  that  you  could  neither  be 
taken  nor  destroyed,  and  that  all  who  fought  under  your  banners  would  be  in- 
vincible. While  such  wretched  expedients  are  calculated  to  inspire  the  confi- 
dence, or  to  alarm  the  fears  of  the  ignorant  and  credulous,  they  excite  no  other 
emotion  in  the  mind  of  the  intelligent  and  enlightened,  but  contempt  and  dis- 
gust. Your  boasted  Charms  have  not  preserved  yourself,  and  of  course  could 
not  protect  others.  "  Your  Altars  and  your  Gods  have  sunk  together  in  the  dust." 
The  airy  spectres,  con  jured  by  you,  have  been  chased  away  by  the  superior  light 
of  Truth,  and  you  stand  exposed,  the  miserable  and  deluded  victim  of  offend- 
ed Justice.  Your  days  are  literally  numbered.  You  will  shortly  be  consigned 
to  the  cold  and  silent  grave,  and  all  the  Powers  of  Darkness  cannot  recue 
you  from  your  approaching  Fate !  Let  me  then,  conjure  you  to  devote  the 
remnant  of  your  miserable  existence,  in  fleeing  from  the  "  wrath  to  come."  This 
<5an  only  be  done  by  a  full  disclosure  of  the  truth.  The  Court  are  willing  to 
afford  you  all  the  u\d  in  their  power,  and  to  permit  any  Minister  of  the  Gospel^ 
whom  you  may  select  to  have  free  access  to  you.  To  him  you  may  unbur- 
then  your  guilty  conscience.  Neglect  not  the  opportunity,  for  there  is  "no 
device  nor  art  beyond  the  tomb,"  to  which  you  must  shortly  be  consigned. 

SENTENCE  pronounced  on  Dick,  Bacchus,  William,  Naphur,  Adaivi, 
Bellisle,  Charles,  Jeremy  and  Dean,  by  L.  H  Kennedy,  Esq.  Presi" 
ding  Magistrate. 

The  Court,  on  mature  deliberation,  have  pronounced  you  guilty  ;  the  punish- 
ment of  that  guilt  is  death.  Your  conduct,  on  the  present  occasion,  exhibits 
a  degree  of  depravity  and  extravagance,  rarely  parralleled.  Your  professed 
objects  were  to  trample,  not  only  on  the  laws  of  this  state,  but  on  those  of 
humanity  ;  to  commit  murder,  outrage  and  plunder,  and  to  substitute  for  the 
blessings  we  enjoy,  anarchy  and  confusion  in  their  most  odious  forms. — The 
beauties  of  nature  and  of  art,  would  have  fallen  victims  to  your  relentless  fury  ; 
and  even  the  decrepitude  of  age  and  the  innocence  of  childhood  would  have 
found  no  other  refuge  than  the  grave  ! 

Surely,  nothing  but  infatuation  could  have  prompted  you  to  enter  into  a  plot 
so  wild  and  diabolical.  A  moment's  reflection  would  have  convinced  you,  that 
disgrace  and  ruiti  must  have  been  its  consequence,  and  that  it  would  have  pro- 
bably resulted  in  the  destruction  and  extermination  of  your  race.  But  if,  even 
complete  success  had  crowned  your  efforts,  what  were  the  golden  visions  which 
you  anticipated Such  men  as  you,  are,  in  general,  as  ignorant  as  you  are 
vicious,  without  any  settled  principles,  and  possessing  but  few  of  the  virtues  of 
civilized  life ; — you  would  soon,  therefore,  have  degenerated  into  a  horde  of 
barbarians,  incapable  of  any  government.  But,  admitting  that  a  different  result 
might  have  taken  j^lace,  it  is  natural  to  inquire,  what  are  the  miseries  of  which 
you  complain  .-^  'X  hat  we  should  all  earn  our  bread  by  the  sweat  of  our  brow, 
is  the  decree  which  God  pronounced  at  the  fall  of  man.  It  extended  alike  to 
the  master  and  the  slave ;  to  the  cottage  and  the  throne.  Every  one  is  more  or 
less  subject  to  control  •  and  the  most  exalted,  as  well  as  the  humblest  indi- 
vidual, must  bow  with  deference  to  the  laws  of  that  community,  in  which  he  is 
placed  by  Providence.  Your  situation,  therefore,  was  neither  extraordinary 
nor  unnatural.  Servitude  has  existed  under  various  forms,  from  the  Deluge  to 
the  present  time,  and  in  no  age  or  country  has  the  condition  of  slaves  been 
milder  or  more  humane,  than  your  own  You  are,  with  few  exceptions,  treated 
with  kindness,  and  enjoy,  every  comfort  compatible  with  your  situation.  Yon 


48 


are  exempt  from  many  of  the  miseries,  to  which  the  poor  are  subject  througJioui 
the  world.  In  many  countries  the  life  of  the  slave  is  at  the  disposal  of  his 
master  ;  here  you  have  always  been  under  the  protection  of  the  law. 

The  tribunal  which  now  imposes  this  sentence,  through  its  humble  ov^^Uj, 
atFords  a  strong  exemplification  of  the  truth  of  these  remarks.  In  the 'dis- 
charge of  the  painful  duties  which  have  devolved  on  them,  the  members  of 
this  Court  have  been  as  anxious  to  acquit  the  innoceut  as  determined  to  con- 
demn the  guilty. 

In  addition  to  the  crime  of  treason,  you  have  on  the  present  occasion,  dis- 
played the  vilest  ingratitude.  It  is  a  melancholy  truth  tiiat  those  servants  in 
whom  was  reposed  the  most  unlimited  confidence,  have  been  the  principal 
actors  in  this  wicked  scheme.  Reared  by  the  hand  of  kindness,  and  fostered  by 
a  master  who  assumed  many  of  the  duties  of  a  parent,  you  have  realized  the 
fable  of  the  Frozen  Serpent,  and  attempted  to  destroy  the  bosom  that  sheltered 
and  protected  you. 

You  have,  moreover,  committed  the  grossest  impiety  :  you  have  perverted 
the  sacred  words  of  God,  and  attempted  to  torture  them  into  a  sanction  for 
crimes,  at  the  bare  imagination  of  which,  humanity  shudders.  Are  you  inca- 
pable of  the  Heavenly  influence  of  that  Gospel,  all  whose  "  paths  are  Peace 
It  was  to  reconcile  us  to  our  destiny  on  eartn,  and  to  enable  us  to  discharge  with 
fidelity  ail  our  duties,  whether  as  master  or  servant,  that  those  inspired  precepts 
were  imparted  by  Heaven  to  fallen  man.  There  is  no  condition  of  life  which  is 
not  embraced  by  them  :  and  if  you  had  searched  them,  in  the  spirit  of  truth,  you 
would  have  discovered  instructions  peculiarly  applicable  to  yourselves — "  Ser- 
vants (says  St.  Paul)  be  obedient  to  them  that  are  your  masters,  accordiyig  to  the 
flesh,  with  fear  and  trembling,  in  singleness  of  your  heart,  as  unto  Christ :  not  with 
eye-service  as  menpleasers,  but  :  he  servants  of  Christ,  doing  the  will  of  God 
from  the  heart.'''  Had  you  listened  with  sincerity  to  such  doctrines,  you  would 
not  have  been  arrested  by  an  ignominious  death. 

Your  days  on  earth  are  near  their  close  and  you  now  stand  upon  the  confines 
of  eternity.  While  you  linger  on  this  side  of  the  grave,  permit  me  to  exhort 
you,  in  the  name  of  the  ever-living  God,  whose  holy  ordinances  you  have 
violated,  to  devote  most  earnestly  the  remr>ant  of  your  days,  in  penitence  and 
preparation  for  that  Tribunal,  whose  sentence,  whether  pronounced  in  anger 
or  in  mercy,  is  eternal. 

The  above  Sentences  is  selected  out  of  the  many  passed  on  this  occasion,  with  a 
mev),  to  give  the  reader  a  general  idea  of  them. 


POSTSCRIPT. 
Since  these  sheets  have  been  put  to  press,  it  affords  him,  who  has 
been  engaged  in  their  preparation,  much  gratification  to  be  able  to  cor- 
rect one  mistake,  as  it  places  the  fidelity  of  the  slave  who  first  gave 
the  intelligence  of  the  intended  insurrection,  on  much  higher  ground. 
On  conferring  with  his  master  and  the  free  man  of  colour,  whose  advice 
he  sought,  it  appears  that  tlie  slave  in  question  communicated  the  con- 
versation at  the  Market  to  his  young  master,  before  he  consulted  his 
lYiend,  (the  free  man  of  colour,)  and  that  the  advice  of  the  latter  was 
that  as  "  his  young  master  was  a  youth,  that  it  would  be  best  for  hira 
iinmediafel]/,  zoithout  delay^  to  tell  his  mistress,  that  his  master 
might  receive  the  information  the  instant  he  came  to  town.*'  Vidt 
page  5. 


PRINTED  AND  SOLD  BY  A.  E.  MILLER,  NO.  4;  BROAD-STKEET. 

Price  25ds.  each;  discount  by  thefmndnd-. 


